Choices & Legacy

Old Man winter decided to come to us this week and many of us are thinking “it’s about time!” We had a dry summer and as the farmers and ranchers say, “We need the moisture!” Winter always comes, but each year it is a little different. Like Forrest Gump’s Mama said, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get!” I hate plowing snow for hours and hours when we have those heavy snow years. I have a small plow made for suburbia, plowing ½ mile of rural access road, so it can be challenging. But we made a choice not to spend a lot of money on a big truck and plow. There are trade-offs in life. I had more time to spend plowing 20+ years ago, with no extra money for a more efficient plow set-up.

Now today, we can afford to upgrade our plow truck. But that would mean spending a bunch of dollars. It comes down to a matter of priority, as before we could not spend any more than we did. Now our thinking is what is the best investment for our funds. Biblically speaking we want to leave something for our children, or maybe better yet, the grandchildren. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” Not so much as to ruin them (that would require way more assets than we will ever have!), but to leave a legacy in that act of love.

The choices Lisa and I make in how we spend money are moral decisions, and they are for you too. We want to use the funds God has blessed us with to first honor Him, and the work God is doing around the world. Yes, tithing is one of the most important things a Christian can do. From the time of Adam and Eve, God has wanted people to give an offering of the “first fruits”. It could be crops, animals, money, etc. Jesus said in Mark 12:17, “Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.”

In that context Jesus was implying we should pay our taxes, but more importantly that man should give his life to God for worship and service. We are made in the likeness and image of God as Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Part of our responsibility is also to vote. I hope you voted back on November 5. Part of the inheritance and legacy we leave the next generation is the laws and policies implemented by the people we elect (In most cases they are elected, but how about the 20 million votes Joe Biden “got” in 2020 above the most recent Democratic candidate? If there was not massive fraud in that election cycle, I will eat my hat!).

People, if we want to leave the world in better shape than when we showed up, we must have a society that values the things of the God of the Holy Bible. Why is wrong to have a balanced budget for our country (fiscal responsibility), we all have to do that in our homes or businesses. Why is right and ok to dismember babies int heir Mother’s womb? I am so sad that CI-128 passed due to the millions of dollars of abortion money that came in and the ignorance of Montana voters to not really get informed about things. Parental rights have been killed in the quest for Planned Parenthood to make money off of our young girls’ decision to make a life changing decision to murder their babies. How about the insanity of “trans” policies? We are leaving a legacy that will destroy our families and nation by implementing such things. And the cost is higher, much higher than you can imagine.

I hope you will get informed and put God’s policies in to action in your family this year, it is never too late to do the right thing. The future of our children, grand children and their families depend on us to stand for Truth. If most people thought back to how their ancestors’ viewed things, I think we would be a more honorable nation. Pray for our leaders to seek God, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, pray for you neighbor, pray for understanding, pray for salvation. Then take action!

Dave Carroll is an area missionary with InFaith, America’s oldest Christian home mission agency. He is also pastor of the Wolf Creek Baptist Church. You can contact Dave at 406.459.8935 or [email protected]