Living Wisely: Building a Lasting Legacy

Devotional

Day 1: Living with the End in Mind: The Legacy You Leave

Consider what kind of legacy your life is building each day. Every choice, habit, and relationship is shaping how you will be remembered by your family, friends, colleagues, and church community. Rather than drifting through life or being distracted by trivial pursuits, take time to reflect on the person you want to become and the impact you want to have. Ask yourself if your current lifestyle is contributing to or violating the image of the legacy you hope to leave. Living with the end in mind brings clarity and purpose to your daily actions, helping you to finish well and honor God with your life. [35:01]

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 (ESV)
A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Reflection: If you were to attend your own funeral three years from now, what would you hope each person—family, friend, coworker, and church member—would say about you? What is one change you can make today to move closer to that legacy?

Day 2: Running the Race Marked Out for You

Life is a race uniquely marked out by God for each person, filled with both challenges and opportunities. Instead of being distracted by the past or by the noise of the world, you are called to fix your eyes on Jesus and run with perseverance. The journey is not about comparing yourself to others or longing for the "good old days," but about faithfully pursuing the path God has set before you, trusting Him with both the joys and the sorrows along the way. [37:50]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Reflection: What is one “weight” or distraction that is hindering you from running your race well? How can you lay it aside this week to better fix your eyes on Jesus?

Day 3: Trusting God in Both Prosperity and Adversity

God is sovereign over every season of life—both the days of prosperity and the days of adversity. There are many things in life that you cannot control or understand, but you are called to trust that God has a purpose in both the straight and the crooked paths. Even when suffering or evil seems senseless, faith means accepting both the good and the bad from God's hand, knowing that He is still in control and that His wisdom far surpasses our own. [47:30]

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (ESV)
Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Reflection: Think of a current trial or “crooked” circumstance in your life. How might you respond differently if you truly believed God has a purpose in it, even if you cannot see it now?

Day 4: The Refining Power of Trials

Trials and suffering are not meaningless; God uses them to refine your faith, build your character, and turn your heart from the fleeting things of this world to the hope of eternity. Pain and adversity can be God’s megaphone, drawing you closer to Him, revealing the genuineness of your faith, and making you an example to others. Rather than resenting hardship, consider how God might be using it to shape you into the person He desires you to be. [54:29]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Reflection: Recall a recent or ongoing trial. In what specific way can you choose to trust God and let this experience refine your faith today?

Day 5: Anchoring Your Life to God’s Unchanging Word

In a world filled with confusion and shifting values, you need a fixed point of reference to guide your life. God’s Word is unchanging and eternal, providing the truth and wisdom you need to navigate a culture that often denies absolute truth. By centering your life on Jesus, the living Word, and immersing yourself in Scripture, you can live with clarity, purpose, and hope, leaving a legacy that honors God. [01:17:01]

Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can anchor yourself to God’s Word this week—perhaps through a new habit of Bible reading, memorization, or meditation—so that you are not swayed by the confusion of the world?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 7 and the call to live with the end in mind. By imagining our own funeral and considering what others might say about us, we are challenged to think deeply about the legacy we are building each day. The passage reminds us that a good name is more valuable than riches, and that the end of a matter is better than its beginning. Our lives are not defined by how we start, but by how we finish, and each day’s choices either contribute to or detract from the legacy we hope to leave.

We are urged to avoid the distractions and frivolities that keep us from considering weightier matters—especially the reality of our mortality and our inevitable meeting with God. The “house of mourning” is said to be better than the “house of feasting” because it brings us face to face with life’s brevity and the importance of living wisely. Rather than escaping into entertainment or nostalgia for the “good old days,” we are called to seize the day, recognizing that God has placed us in this moment of history for a purpose.

Ecclesiastes also teaches us to accept both prosperity and adversity as coming from the hand of God. There are “crooks” in every life—trials, suffering, and unanswered questions—that we cannot straighten or fully understand. Yet, these are not without purpose. Trials refine our faith, turn our hearts from the world, discipline us, and provide opportunities for God’s grace and glory to be displayed. Even when we cannot see the reason for suffering, we are reminded that God’s wisdom and knowledge are unsearchable, and that we are called to trust Him in both joy and sorrow.

Living wisely means avoiding both self-righteousness and willful sin, and instead walking in the fear of the Lord—a continual awareness of God’s presence and evaluation of our lives. We are encouraged to number our days, to cultivate disciplines that shape us into the people we want to become, and to fix our eyes on Jesus, the unchanging reference point in a confused and shifting world. Ultimately, the call is to deal honestly with our sin, receive Christ as Savior, and live each day in light of eternity, so that we might finish well and leave a legacy that honors God.

Key Takeaways

1. Legacy Is Built Daily, Not Just Remembered at the End The way we live each day shapes the legacy we leave behind. Our actions, words, and attitudes are the building blocks of how we will be remembered by family, friends, colleagues, and our faith community. Rather than waiting for a future moment to become the person we hope to be, we must intentionally cultivate character and godliness now, knowing that the disciplines and relationships we invest in today will define us tomorrow. [35:01]
2. Embrace the House of Mourning: Let Mortality Refine Your Priorities Facing the reality of death is not morbid, but wise. The “house of mourning” reminds us of life’s brevity and the importance of living with purpose. Rather than distracting ourselves with endless entertainment or nostalgia, we are called to reflect on what truly matters, allowing the awareness of our mortality to clarify our values and motivate us to live for what lasts. [41:26]
3. Accept Both Prosperity and Adversity as God’s Sovereign Work Life’s seasons of joy and hardship are both from God’s hand, and neither is wasted. Adversity, though painful, serves to refine our faith, turn our hearts from lesser things, and display God’s grace to others. Even when we cannot understand the “crooked” paths in our lives, we are called to trust that God’s wisdom is higher than ours, and that He is working out His purposes in ways we may not see this side of eternity. [47:30]
4. Trials Are God’s Tools for Growth, Assurance, and Witness Suffering is not merely to be endured, but embraced as a means by which God shapes us. Trials reveal the genuineness of our faith, discipline us away from sin, and loosen our grip on the world. Moreover, how we respond to suffering becomes a testimony to others, as our peace and trust in God amidst pain point to a hope that transcends circumstances. [54:29]
5. Fix Your Eyes on Christ, the Unchanging Reference Point In a world of confusion and shifting values, we need a fixed point of reference. Jesus Christ and the Word of God provide the stability and truth we need to navigate life’s uncertainties. By anchoring our lives to Him, we gain clarity, avoid being swept away by cultural chaos, and are empowered to live wisely, leaving a legacy that honors God and blesses others. [75:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:13] - Imagining Your Own Funeral: The Legacy Question
[33:53] - Four Voices at Your Memorial
[35:01] - What Will You Be Remembered For?
[35:57] - Wisdom from Ecclesiastes 7: Living Well
[37:50] - Running the Race: Finishing Well
[39:14] - The Value of a Good Name and a Life Well Lived
[41:26] - Distractions vs. Reflection: The House of Mourning
[42:49] - Avoiding Nostalgia: Don’t Live in the Past
[45:51] - Carpe Diem: Seize the Day
[47:30] - Accepting God’s Sovereignty in Prosperity and Adversity
[49:13] - The Purpose of Trials: Crooks in the Lot
[54:29] - How Trials Refine Faith and Character
[57:41] - Discipline, Character, and Witness Through Suffering
[65:31] - Living Wisely: Avoiding Extremes and Fearing God
[69:24] - Building a Legacy: The Power of Daily Disciplines
[70:48] - The Universal Problem of Sin and the Gift of Christ
[75:40] - Christ as Our Fixed Point in a Confused World
[77:57] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living with the End in Mind (Ecclesiastes 7)

Bible Reading

Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 (ESV)
> 1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
> 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.
> 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
> 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
> 5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
> 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
> 7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
> 8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
> 9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
> 10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
> 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
> 12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
> 13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?
> 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
> 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
> 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Observation Questions

According to Ecclesiastes 7, why is it “better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting”? What does the “house of mourning” help us remember? [[35:57]]
In verse 8, what does the writer say about the end of a matter compared to its beginning? How does this relate to the idea of legacy? [[39:14]]
What does the preacher mean when he says, “Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?” [[47:30]]
In Hebrews 12:1-2, what are believers encouraged to do as they “run the race marked out for us”? [[37:50]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon suggests that facing our mortality can actually help us live more wisely and purposefully. Why might thinking about our own funeral or legacy be a helpful spiritual exercise? [[32:13]]
The preacher says that both prosperity and adversity come from God’s hand. How might this perspective change the way someone responds to suffering or success? [[47:30]]
The message warns against both self-righteousness and willful sin, encouraging us instead to “walk in the fear of the Lord.” What does it look like to avoid these extremes in daily life? [[01:05:31]]
The sermon talks about “fixing our eyes on Jesus” as our unchanging reference point. Why is it important to have a fixed point of reference, especially in a world that feels confusing or unstable? [[01:15:40]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to imagine what people might say at our funeral. If you honestly consider your life right now, what do you think your family, friends, coworkers, or church community would say about you? Is there anything you would want to change about your legacy? [[32:13]]
The “house of mourning” is said to be better than the “house of feasting” because it helps us face reality. Are there ways you tend to distract yourself from thinking about deeper or uncomfortable topics? What would it look like to make space for reflection this week? [[41:26]]
The preacher says that both good times and hard times are from God, and that trials can refine our faith and character. Can you think of a recent trial or “crooked” situation in your life? How did you respond, and what might God have been teaching you through it? [[49:13]]
The message encourages us to avoid living in the past or longing for the “good old days.” Is there an area of your life where you are stuck in nostalgia or regret? How can you “seize the day” and be present in the moment God has given you? [[45:51]]
The sermon talks about the importance of daily disciplines in shaping who we become. What is one small, specific habit you could start (or restart) this week to help you grow in godliness or leave a better legacy? [[01:09:24]]
Trials are described as opportunities for God’s grace and glory to be displayed to others. Is there someone in your life who has seen your response to suffering? How might your faith in hard times be a witness to them? [[01:00:52]]
The preacher says that Jesus and God’s Word are our “fixed point of reference.” Is there a particular area of confusion or instability in your life right now? What would it look like to anchor yourself to Christ and His Word in that area this week? [[01:15:40]]

End with prayer, asking God to help you live each day in light of eternity, to trust Him in both joy and sorrow, and to leave a legacy that honors Him.

Sermon Clips

62s

#SinAndRedemption

“But just because you and I can't see some kind of good purpose in evil and in suffering doesn't mean there isn't one. We don't know. We're living under the sun. God knows. Deuteronomy 29, 29. The secret things belong to the Lord our God. There are things we don't know. Romans chapter 11. It talks about the nature of God. And the fact that, again, we can't know everything. Romans chapter 1. Excuse me. Romans chapter 11, verse 33. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. His ways are inscrutable. We are constantly trying to unscrew the inscrutable. Figure out what's going on. Why is this happening? God knows. We don't know.”

49s

#NowIsTheTime

“So what do we do? Back to verse 14. In the day of prosperity, be joyful. And in the day of adversity, consider God has made the one as well as the other. In other words, accept both good and bad under the sovereign hand of God. He's still in control. I don't understand it. I may not like it. But I trust God that there's a purpose in this thing. And I may not know it this side of heaven. Someday I will. And, you know, what bothers me is I think when I get to heaven, it's not going to matter. Right? But I want it to matter in this life. But we just don't know. So on the day of prosperity, joy, day of adversity should drive us to him. Faith in him. Because he cares for us.”

38s

“Leonard Ravenhill used to say, are the things you're living for worth Christ dying for? Well, that's a short view. What's the long view? The long view is setting our eyes beyond this life. Wisdom would have us, first of all, deal with our sin. Verse 20 says, surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Right? Surely there's not a righteous man on earth that never sins. There is none righteous. No, not one. So wisdom would have us deal with our sin.”

56s

“``The bad news was that the wages of sin is death. The wages of sin is God's righteous judgment on all of us. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. None of us escape that. None of us escape, as it were, the wrath of God, except for the fact, the good news, is that way back in Genesis chapter 3, God promised a Redeemer who would undo the effects of sin. And God sent His one and only Son into this world to die on a cross. Justice had to be paid. If there was no payment for sin, there would be no justice in the universe. Justice had to be paid. God didn't want to judge us, but He had to judge us, but He therefore judged His Son, Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sin and for my sin if we put our faith and trust in Him.”

60s

“Do you have a fixed point of reference? This becomes a fixed point of reference as we read it. Isaiah said, grass withers, flowers, fades, but the word of our God lasts forever. It's a fixed point of reference. The written word of God. Jesus Christ is the living word of God. We center our lives upon him. We spend time in his word, and we're not thrown into confusion. And we can look ahead, and we can live for the end, as it were, hopefully leaving a good legacy, hopefully leaving the people that knew us with some good thoughts about us, about the kind of person we were, the kind of character we had, the kind of accomplishments, contributions that we made. What kind of legacy do you want to leave?”

Ask a question about this sermon

VVCC Kent This sermon · AI assistant

What is the purpose of life's trials and suffering?

How does living with the end in mind influence choices?

Why is fixing our eyes on Jesus essential?