Spend It or Invest It
A Life Well Lived Leaves a Spiritual Legacy
by
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CHAPTER 1
LEAVING A LEGACY
“THE MEASURE OF MY CHARACTER IS NOT WHAT I GET FROM MY ANCESTORS, BUT WHAT I LEAVE MY DECENDANTS AND OTHERS WHO FOLLOW. THE FRUIT OF GOD’S SPIRIT IS REFLECTED IN WHAT I DO, IN WHO I AM BECOMING AND IN THE LEGACY I LEAVE. (Jerry Evans)
How do you want to be remembered by your children, friends, associates, relatives and those with whom you cross paths? That is really what it boils down to when we talk about leaving a legacy. When we leave this life we WILL leave a legacy. Will it be one that will make a difference in the lives of those who follow our generation or follow our children’s and grandchildren’s generation? Will it be one that impacts others in a positive, God honoring way?
Dictionary definition of a legacy: “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past”. Jerry’s definition of a spiritual legacy. =Transmitting spiritual foundations, truths, obedience to God and godly characteristics from an ancestor or predecessor to others. Our dream for years, which we have often spoken of, is one of our life goals, and that is that to invest our lives and not spend them. Jerry’s life verses, (Colossians 1:28-29 (NIV) “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me”. The difference in investing my life and spending my life is very evident. My investments will have eternal significance, but if I spend my life and live past 100 years of age, my life will end when I die. By investing my life in others, I will continue to live through those in whom I have invested my life. Our children are grown and have children of their own and I can see some of the dividends already being passed on to their children. It is so rewarding to see our children passing that legacy to their children. Hopefully, these grandchildren will have the same desire as their parents and us, their grandparents; that is to invest their lives and not spend them. I saw evidence of this in our oldest grandsons beginning when they were older children. Brandon and Taylor, the two oldest grandchildren (twin boys), who graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University in 2011 and were leaders on campus and in their churches. One was President of the Student Body and the other was President of the OBU Student Nurses Association. I saw them pouring their lives into other students on and off campus. Now they are leaders in their career fields. As I write this, I also see this developing in their sister who graduated 2016 and was a leader on campus for her four years of college. Jessica was a leader in student government and at the end of her senior year was awarded the highest honor OBU awards to students. The plaque read, “For Qualities of Leadership, Scholarship, Concern for others, and Christian commitment”. Nick’s oldest, Christopher has been a leader from childhood. He has moved into management in his company at age 22. These four grandchildren will be leaders wherever they are. (Granddad bragging)
We will never fully know the legacy we leave until we get to Heaven, which is something to which I look forward. It has always been important to Becky and me that we leave a spiritual legacy. People pass through life and leave money, possessions, property and others leave a legacy, some good, some bad and some leave spiritual legacies. It is often done by chance rather than by intention. I want to leave a legacy by intention rather than by chance. People write last wills and testaments and leave material things, but that is a long way from leaving a spiritual legacy, a legacy of honesty and integrity. I would also like to be able to leave some material things, including financial security to Becky should I precede her in death and some type of financial legacy to my children.
However, more important than any material possession, I pray God grant it, is that I leave a spiritual legacy. I want my spiritual will to be intact each and every minute of the day, so if God calls me home unexpectedly, I will have completed my will and testament. Leaving money and possessions are unimportant compared to spiritual legacy. I often wonder what kind of spiritual legacy, what kind of understanding of who God is and what He has done in my life, I will leave behind.
When I think of leaving a legacy, I think of those Becky and I have mentored, taught and spent time with. We will leave a legacy in them. What can we leave behind on this earth that will bring honor and glory to God? God told me many years ago that I can live forever in Heaven with Him, but my life on earth can continue in my absence by leaving a legacy. While we cannot give someone else our faith, we can hand down our faith through our walk with God, mentoring others, our quiet time, journaling, writings and the life we live by investing it.
A person who dies and leaves no will is said to have died “intestate” and one who does leave a will is said to have died “testate”. A will and testament is an instrument made by a person to voluntarily convey title to items he owned to someone else. A will takes effect only after death of the decedent. The will is known as a device. In legal terms the gift of personal property is known as legacy or bequest. The question I would pose at this time to the reader is, from a spiritual standpoint; will you die intestate or testate? What kind of legacy will you leave when you die?
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About the Book
Spend It or Invest It is written to encourage, challenge and instruct the reader in living in such a way as to leave a spiritual legacy. It is filled with scriptural teachings and heart-warming and sometimes gut-wrenching personal experiences that lead the reader to seek to identify and define what a life well-lived would look like. For our lives here on this earth to have meaning and purpose, we must decide whether we should spend our lives or invest them in the lives of others. How do we want to be remembered by our children, friends, associates, relatives and others? When we leave this life, we will leave a legacy. Will it affect others in a positive, God-honoring way?
About the Author
Jerry has been a Pastor for 35 years. He has been married to his life partner Becky and co-author for fifty five years. They are alumni of Auburn University, Jerry-Luther Rice Seminary. Prior to ministry Jerry was CEO of a corporation, Becky teacher and administrator.
Jerry served as Lead Pastor for 10 years after serving as Executive Pastor, Pastor, Education/Administration for 19 years in three churches. Prior to entering vocational ministry, he was in the midst of a successful career as a CEO of a corporation coming up through the ranks of Labor Relations in three Fortune 500 companies. He was recruited from college to Albuquerque where he worked until 1982 when God called him to full time vocational ministry. Jerry resigned his position. He and his wife, Becky, were called to Texas to serve a church full time and complete seminary. He returned home to Albuquerque where he served as Executive Pastor for 8.5 years; then back to Texas in a similar position, then Senior Pastor for the next 10 years in Texas and Oklahoma and finally back home to Albuquerque for retirement (whatever that means). Upon this so called retirement, Jerry and Becky, went to work immediately part time in two churches and consulting with churches and coaching Pastors. Jerry served as Transitional Pastor in a church and is once again serving as Transitional Pastor as of the publishing of this book. Becky has served as a volunteer in all the churches alongside Jerry, helping with Christian education, small groups, teacher training, and leading Ladies Ministry. She served as Volunteer Minister of Education where Jerry was Lead Pastor. She is a known speaker to Ladies Ministry events, conducts Sunday School and leadership training. Prior to vocational ministry Becky served as Youth Minister, was a Business Administrator and a high school teacher. They have two grown children and seven grandchildren. They are both alumni of Auburn University and Jerry is a graduate of Luther Rice Seminary. He is a motivational speaker in churches and the business world.