I want to read for you David’s advice to Solomon.  Now imagine, this is the much older warrior king who is about to pass away.  All he wants to do is summarize the most important things of his life to pass on to his son.  He’s looking over his life of success and failure.  He’s has lived with God and given his heart to God.  He had experienced enormous pain from sin.  He had an affair and from that affair, his son died.  So he looks over his life and this is what he shares with his young son everything that matters.  His son is too young and has no clue about the depth of what is about to be shared.

1 Chronicles 28:9-10, 20 “And you, Solomon my son, get to know well your father’s God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for GOD examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he’ll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he’ll leave you for good.  Look sharp now! GOD has chosen you to build his holy house. Be brave, determined! And do it!”

David continued to address Solomon: “Take charge! Take heart! Don’t be anxious or get discouraged. GOD, my God, is with you in this; he won’t walk off and leave you in the lurch. He’s at your side until every last detail is completed for conducting the worship of GOD.”

David’s advice to Solomon.  1.) Understand who’s world you are in.   You are in God’s world.  You need to accept this reality.  Run to Him.  Serve Him.  2.) As you live life and lead; be strong, be brave & GET THE JOB DONE!  3.) While you live life, don’t be afraid or discouraged.  Why?  Because I have faced fear and depression and discovered that through it all – God was with me and He will be with you.

Before we continue, I want to ask you a few questions.   What do you want your legacy to be?  A beer drinking complainer who criticized everyone?  The man who paid the bills but had no time for relationships with his family?  The man who could never overcome his addictions?  The man who inspired people.  They say, “Because of that man, I am who I am today.”

I’m not trying to be too confrontational with you but, if you don’t care about your legacy, I’m sorry for you.  Actually I’m more sorry for the people around you.  Your wife, your children, those around you in the community will feel the weight of your decision to check out.  At your funeral, they will say nice things but think… wow, all that lost potential.

If you want to have a legacy worth passing on, read the words of David.  Pretend that David is speaking to you and passing on his life wisdom to you.  Understand who’s world you are living in – you are living in God’s world.   I know a lot of guys who haven’t figured this out yet.  They are the center of their story and they expect everyone else to serve them.  The man who leaves his family for another woman.  The man who builds a business or career but can’t spend time with his children.  The man who is lead by his addictions.

What you will need someday is to be crushed.  A reality check.  A Scrooge movie moment.  When you are crushed, you run to God, when your passionate for God to shape and mold your life.  My prayer for you is that you run to God before you are crushed.

And as you live life and lead, be strong, be brave & GET THE JOB DONE!  Why does David say this?  Because as you try to live life, you will face two things.  It’s what every man faces: Fear and Depression.  So David looks back into his life of facing fear and depression and tells Solomon, son, be brave be determined, GET THE JOB DONE!!!

Guys, living life means that you will face fear and insecurities and you still do the right thing. Leaders lead with fear and insecurities.  Followers always want safety, comfort, no risk, check out and do the least possible.  David tells Solomon, man up.  If you want to inspire those around you and the next generation, take the risk and live out the life that God has for you.

And as you live life know that God is with you.  What’s the first thing you conclude about life when it gets hard?  God’s not with me.  David is having this, “Son, let me tell you about life” moment.  It’s hard …and God is with you.  You’re going to feel like you aren’t good enough …and God is with you. You will make mistakes …and God is with you.

Guys, listen.  Your living in God’s world, give your life to Him.  Be strong and brave as you face the adversity of life because everyone faces insecurities and moments of doubt.  And in the worst of times, always remember that God is with you.