8-3-25 “What Will You Leave Behind?”

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“What Will You Leave Behind?”

I want to start with something funny that I found on an internet site: A pastor didn’t like talking to the congregation about “offering.” But when the church coffers were running low, he had no choice. He stood before the congregation and said, “There’s good news and bad news. The good news is that we have more than enough money to meet all the current and future needs of our church ministry. The bad news is, it’s still in your pockets.”

You may have heard the saying, “When it’s time to die, the one who is dying often knows it.” And after a loved one passes away, we often rethink their last words or actions. When my mother passed away unexpectedly in a hospital, my siblings and I reflected on the final things she said to each of us. At the time, we didn’t realize they were her last wishes—but later, we had that “aha” moment. “That’s why she said that.” “That’s what she wanted to leave us.”

My mother’s last wish for me—something I’ve shared before—was this: “Go to America, study more, and become a pastor.” I believe that wish was a treasure she handed down to me. By honoring it, I became a pastor and am here today. What she truly left behind was a legacy of faith and vision in God. So I ask you: When your time comes, what will you leave behind?

Some people make a “wish list” for life. Others call it a bucket list—things they hope to do before they “kick the bucket.” This idea became well-known through the 2007 film The Bucket List (Warner Bros.), starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

It tells the story of two very different men: Edward Cole, a wealthy hospital magnate, and Carter Chambers, a humble mechanic and devoted family man. They meet as hospital roommates after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Carter begins writing a bucket list, and Edward adds his own wild ideas—then offers to fund the journey.

Together, they go skydiving, visit the pyramids, race cars, go on safari, and more. As their friendship deepens, Carter encourages Edward to reconcile with his estranged daughter, while Edward helps Carter rediscover joy and spontaneity. Carter dies shortly after the trip, but not before helping Edward take steps toward healing. In the end, Edward reconnects with his daughter and places both of their ashes atop a mountain—one final check on their list. This movie reminds us of what makes life truly valuable. So again, I ask: What will you leave behind—in your personal life and in your ministry?

In today’s Scripture, a man approaches Jesus with a request: “Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But Jesus doesn’t settle the dispute. Instead, He issues a warning:

“Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” He then tells the parable of a rich man who believed he had secured his future through abundant harvests and bigger barns. But God calls him a fool—not because he was rich, but because he put his trust in wealth and ignored what truly mattered. That very night, his life was demanded of him. Jesus asks: All that you’ve prepared—whose will it be?

The rich man left behind full barns—but no legacy of love, generosity, or faith. His story was not one of kindness or impact, but of isolation and accumulation. Each of us is writing a story with our lives. And the church is writing a story in the community.

• What will people say when they remember us?
• Will our story be one of faithfulness? Of risk-taking love? Of open hands and open hearts?

We often remember the time when our church was filled with many members and great energy. That was the faithful inheritance passed down to us. Now the question is: What will we leave behind for the next generation?

In verse 21, Jesus says: “This is how it will be with those who store up things for themselves but are not rich toward God.” What does it mean to be ‘rich toward God?’

It means our values are shaped by ‘kingdom investments,’ such as relationships over riches, generosity over gain, worship over worry, and people over possessions. Being rich toward God isn’t about how much we have—it’s about how we use what we’ve been given.

In our personal lives, it might mean mentoring a young person, supporting a mission, instead of upgrading a gadget, praying with someone instead of just offering advice. In our church life, it might mean focusing less on preserving tradition and more on bearing fruit,

asking not “What do we need to survive?” but “Who is God calling us to serve?” The man in the parable didn’t expect his life to end that night. None of us knows the time. But this truth isn’t meant to scare us—it’s meant to free us to live lives that truly matter.

So, what will we leave behind? A legacy of prayer? A church that welcomed the broken?

A faith community that dared to serve? A personal witness that reflected the love of Christ? We are stewards of time, treasure, and testimony. Faithful stewardship builds a legacy that echoes in eternity. I’ve heard many regrets from people nearing the end of life, but I’ve never heard anyone say, “I wish I hadn’t given so much away. I wish I had kept more for myself.” Death has a way of clarifying what really matters. Jesus reminds us: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20–21).

So, let us share all the gifts and fruits God has given us—with our neighbors, our church, and the world. That is how we store up treasure in heaven. That is how we become rich toward God. One day, someone else will live in your house. Someone else will use your dishes. Someone else will sit in your pew. What will they remember about you?

The barns of this world crumble. But a life lived for Christ lasts forever. Let’s leave behind more than stuff. Let’s leave behind stories of love, acts of service, and seeds of faith. Let’s be rich toward God. Thanks be to God. Amen.