Kingdom Values (7)

Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons,
Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.
I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations;
Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever. Psalm 45.16, 17

Good today, good tomorrow
We’re considering the kind of values that should lodge in our consciences, to strengthen them for guarding and directing our minds and hearts to follow Jesus. We’ve examined five values that are conducive to directing our thoughts and shaping our affections in ways most likely to promote a Kingdom lifestyle: First, our calling from God to His Kingdom and glory. It then follows that we should seek God’s Kingdom over all else. This will lead us to renewal in all aspects of our lives, and holiness, without which no one can see the Lord. All this we pursue as part of our mission to bring and proclaim the Kingdom to which we have been called.

To these I’d like to add one more: legacy. It should be important to us, a matter of the highest priority, to leave something behind for others, to help them on their journey into the Kingdom and glory of God. 

As the Kingdom of God comes to fruition in and through us, we can expect to touch the lives of others with many good things. We will help people learn, encourage them in the use of their own gifts, show them how to work their Personal Mission Fields, inspire them by our example of service and love, impart vision and skills to assist them in their own callings and ministries, and many things besides. If doing such things now is a good thing, wouldn’t finding some way for this to continue after we’re gone be a good thing as well?

But how do we do that?

Faithful, teachable, able
Paul explains how in 2 Timothy 2.2, elaborating on an idea expressed in our text. 

The sons of Korah, who wrote Psalm 45, envisioned a day when the current leaders of Israel would be replaced by their sons, to extend the Kingdom of God beyond where their fathers had ever been able to take it (NB: I follow NASB in thinking that the NKJV is wrong in capitalizing you and your in verse 16). Paul instructed Timothy for a similar kind of vision, and through Timothy he instructs us as well. If we can invest in a few people, so that they embrace the Kingdom values we’ve been discussing in this series – embrace them so soundly and fruitfully that they pass them on to others – then those folks may be the ones to keep our Kingdom contribution going long after we have finally entered the eternal Kingdom and glory of the Lord.

Paul encouraged Timothy to embrace a legacy vision reaching to the second generation beyond himself. Timothy should teach faithful men who would be able to teach others also. So, in teaching men about the Kingdom of God, Timothy would also have to give them, not only the values and skills for Kingdom living, but also a vision and the incentives and skills necessary to impart that lifestyle to others. If we value leaving a legacy of Kingdom calling, seeking, renewal, holiness, and mission, then we, too, will make it a priority in our lives to search out others to whom we can impart these values and the way of life that goes with them.

In his instructions to Timothy, Paul counsels us to look for a particular type of people: faithful people – people who have demonstrated a real desire to know the Lord, follow Him, and serve Him with their lives. Look for people who are hungry for God’s Word, eager to pray, committed to Christ and His Church, and willing to embrace the Kingdom values that can bring such peace, joy, and fruitfulness to their lives. Conversely, people who make excuses, are habitually “too busy,” or don’t follow through on things they’ve promised or agreed to do – such people may be sincere Christians, but they’re not the kind of faithful people who will allow you to leave a legacy of Kingdom living to the second generation beyond yourself.

Teach these faithful people. Spend time with them. Study the Word, read good books, take up projects and activities together, become prayer partners and soul friends, work hard to stir up one another to love and good works (Heb. 10.24). Gaining a Kingdom vision and embracing Kingdom values and a Kingdom way of life don’t just happen. Don’t wait for your church to do something, take charge yourself. Look for resources that emphasize the priority and values of the Kingdom of God, and work through them together with the faithful people you’re equipping as part of your legacy.

If you will be diligent in teaching faithful people, they will then be able to teach others also.

Put them to work
Then, finally, give the faithful people you are teaching opportunities to train others as well. Bring them into your disciple-making efforts and let them share in teaching and leadership roles. Encourage them to take the things they’ve learned and begin looking for faithful people of their own. Give them a vision for instilling Kingdom values, and be available to encourage and assist them.

As we journey toward the Kingdom to which God is calling us, seeking Him and His glory, working for renewal, bringing holiness to completion, and striving to bring others into the Good News of the Kingdom, let’s leave some markers along the way, to guide and encourage those who will come after us. Take as a value, firm set in your conscience, to make disciples of faithful people who will teach others also, and you’ll be able to say truly and confidently with the sons of Korah, “I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.”

For reflection
1.  Meditate on Matthew 28.18-20. With what has Jesus charged us? What is the state of disciple-making in your life at this time?

2.  What do you need in order to begin making disciples more consistently? To whom can you look to help get you ready for this work?

3.  What are the biggest obstacles you need to overcome before making disciples will be a more consistent part of your walk with and work for the Lord?

Next steps: Where should you start to begin fulfilling the challenge of 2 Timothy 2.2? Who are the people closest to you, and how can you encourage and equip them as faithful people who will be able to teach others also?

T. M. Moore

Download this entire series in a free PDF by clicking here.

The Ailbe Cross, which you can see in the masthead of our website, incorporates the Kingdom values examined in this series. Watch this brief videoto see how all these values underlie our ministry.

Is the Kingdom of God a daily reality for you, or just something you think about from time to time? That is, have you made the Kingdom turn into a richer, fuller experience of following Jesus? Our book The Kingdom Turn can help you realize more of the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.