The Biblical Vision of Leaving a Legacy

The Biblical Vision of Leaving a Legacy

My maternal grandfather's name was Gerald Mizener. He was a good man. He was steady, stable, loving, joyful, disciplined, courageous, and always stood up to evil. As I look back at my life I am grateful for him as an example of a godly man. I can't imagine my self-image without him as part of the heritage I proudly claim to be a part of me. Of course he was not perfect. No man besides Christ is. But he passed down a heritage to me that I cherish. And I can't wait to embrace him one day in eternity and hug him and thank him for being such a wonderful grandpa to me. Are there people in your ancestral line that give you a sense of identity up to which you aspire to live? What we pass down to our posterity matters. God's Word is clear that a righteous man passes down wealth to his children and his children's children. Wealth does not have to mean financial. It can mean wealth of character, wealth of wisdom, wealth of knowledge; but it certainly does include material wealth. It is a wicked man who leaves nothing to his posterity. 

Proverbs 13:22 says "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."

Notice how it does not say the sinner has no wealth. But whatever he does have is stored up for the righteous. So there is a connection and a relationship between whether you are righteous or wicked and whether your wealth, whatever form it is in, will be passed down to your children, or taken from you and given to the righteous. God will not be mocked. He created a world of order and the order of this world blesses the righteous and curses the wicked. Maybe not right away. But we can always count on that being the final outcome. 

I know a married couple who has lost 3 of their parents between the two of them over the course of their marriage. In every case of one of their parents dying, they left no inheritance to their children. And, consequently, they left no inheritance to their children's children. What a sad picture of a life not well-lived. In one case, one parent even claimed the inheritance which she received early while she was still alive and sold it for fleeting thrills that lasted as long as a mist. 

Conversely, I know of a many brothers in Christ who are striving to live according to Psalm 112. If you are not familiar with it, read it below and be inspired by the Psalm 112 kind of man: 

Psalm 112

Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
9 He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.

What can we learn from this righteous man? First, it is important to note that Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of this man. Read it again and exult in the glory of your Savior if you have repented of your sins and claimed the blood of Christ to cover your sins. But then look at it as a man whom we should emulate. 

1. First, this man is blessed because he fears The Lord and delights in His commandments. Our lives should look like this is true. 

2. Because of this man's godliness and fear of God and delight in His commandments everything else flows from that. Therefore, his descendants will mighty in the land. 

3. This man who fears The Lord and delights in His commandments has wealth and riches in his house. So much of American Christianity makes it seem like it is wrong to seek to be wealthy. Our God is the wealthiest of all though. He owns the Universe! The more wealth we have the more we can reflect God's glory with our wealth as we see in the rest of the Psalm. 

4. This man is gracious, full of compassion, and he is righteous. What does he do with this grace, compassion, and righteousness?

5. He lends. 

6. He is stable and not afraid of bad news.

7. He gives to the poor. 

There is much more we can say about this man. But look at what he is able to do when he is a man of stabilty and wealth. He is able to help others. He is able to multiply what he has. He is able to be a rock for his loved ones. How does this relate to real estate you might wonder?

I am glad you asked. 

In Matthew Chapter 25 we read about the parable of the talents. In this passage, Jesus is teaching and he tells a story about three servants who were given some money by their master to take care of for him while he went away on a trip. When he returned he rewarded and praised the two servants who invested the money he gave them and multiplied it. But the servant who, out of fear of losing what his master gave him, buried the money, he called wicked. And the master took that money from the servant and gave it to the other two faithful servants. 

While this parable does not directly relate to real estate, it does teach us what God expects of his people with all the blessings He abundantly bestows upon us. Lest you be tempted to think that you have not been abundantly blessed from the Lord, let me ask you...Are you breathing? Is your heart beating? Are you able to direct your thoughts and your prayers to your infinite, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, Holy, loving, and good God? Has Christ died for you? Is His blood available to cover your sins for eternity? Has Christ given you His righteousness and taken on your sin? Have you been welcomed into the intense fellowship between the Triune God? Shall I go on? Has He given you a place to live? 

Every one of use has a place we call home. Maybe it is an apartment; maybe a small house with a small yard, maybe a large lot, maybe a mansion. No matter what your current home is, you have the opportunity to make your home the place where you thoughtfully work out what it looks like to make that home more productive and multiply your blessings. Real estate is a critically important way we are to obey Christ and take the blessings from our Father and multiply them, trusting the Lord to bring the increase. Sometimes your efforts will fail. Ask any farmer. But even in the failures, wealth accumulates. The wealth of experience and knowledge you personally gain. The wealth of life lessons you are able to pass down to your children as you bring them into your efforts to be faithful to multiply what you have. The wealth of sanctification and trust in God. The ways you build wealth as you strive to multiply your blessings within your home are numerous. 

Using your home as your center of building generational wealth is going to look different depending on where you and your family are in your journey. if you are renting you are limited in what you can do. But you can do something. I remember one time a young married couple was telling me that they really want to start a business growing and selling their own herbs. But they lived in an apartment. So they grew things in pots on their balcony. Zechariah 4:10 says "For who has despised the day of small things?" This is a reference to the rebuilding of the once great temple in Jerusalem after the Jews return from exile in Babylon. They were lamenting that the temple did not compare to the glorious temple from Solomon's days. But they were rebuked to not despise the day of small beginnings. For Scripture teaches us that he who is faithful with little will be faithful with much. 

However, many of my readers will have more than an apartment with which they are use their real estate to build generational wealth. Many of you have a house in a neighborhood with a yard, or a large parcel of land. The point is that we should look at where God has placed us as a place where we have a plethora of opportunities to creatively use our home to multiply its blessings and build generational wealth. This mission can take many forms. But it mustn't be a neglected mission. 

As you think about what this could look like where you are, know that Family Heritage Realty exists to help you in your journey. Whether you are a first time home buyer just looking for your first place to buy, or you are an investor looking for your next short term rental or commercial investment, or someone who wants to leave the rigid contraints of your communist HOA and buy a home with some land and no restrictions, we are here to walk along side you, learn about your situation, and help you as you prayerfully seek to multiply what God has given you. 

Below is a list of ideas of how you can use your home to begin building generational wealth. This list is not exhaustive. Feel free to leave a comment below with your own ideas. 

The goal is not simply to accumulate wealth, but to steward the resources God has entrusted to us in ways that bless our families and others. Sometimes that stewardship begins with very small steps taken at home.

23 Ways Your Home Can Become a Place of Stewardship and Wealth Creation

1. Start a Backyard Garden
Growing vegetables can reduce food costs and sometimes produce surplus that can be sold at farmers markets or shared with neighbors.

2. Grow and Sell Herbs
Even small spaces can produce herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme that restaurants and neighbors will buy.

 3. Keep Chickens for Eggs
A small flock can provide food for your family and extra eggs that can be sold locally.

 4. Create a Backyard Orchard
Fruit trees take time to mature but can provide decades of production and value.

 5. Build a Greenhouse
A greenhouse can extend the growing season and allow you to produce plants, vegetables, or seedlings for sale.

 6. Rent Out a Spare Bedroom
A spare bedroom can produce steady income through long-term renting or short-term stays.

 7. Create a Short-Term Rental
An unused basement, guesthouse, or accessory dwelling unit can generate meaningful income.

 8. Raise Bees
Beekeeping can produce honey, beeswax, and pollination benefits for gardens.

 9. Grow Specialty Crops
Examples include microgreens, mushrooms, or specialty peppers that command higher prices.

 10. Rent Out Storage Space
Garages, barns, or sheds can be rented to neighbors needing storage.

 11. Offer RV or Camper Parking
If you have space, renting parking for RVs or trailers can generate monthly income.

 12. Start a Home Workshop
Woodworking, blacksmithing, furniture repair, or other trades can be run from a garage or shop.

 13. Raise Small Livestock
Goats, sheep, or rabbits can produce milk, meat, fiber, or breeding stock.

14. Sell Plants and Seedlings
Many gardeners buy seedlings in spring. Starting plants early can become a profitable seasonal business.

 15. Host Small Events
Larger properties can host weddings, retreats, or gatherings.

 16. Start a Homeschool Co-Op Space
Some families convert part of their property into a meeting place for homeschool classes or tutoring.

 17. Build a Rental Cabin
Small cabins or cottages can generate income through vacation rentals.

 18. Lease Land for Agriculture
Even a few acres can sometimes be leased to farmers for hay, grazing, or specialty crops.

 19. Install Solar Panels
Solar energy can reduce long-term costs and sometimes produce sellable electricity depending on local programs.

 20. Start a Family Business from Home
Many businesses can begin in a home setting: baking, crafts, tutoring, consulting, or online businesses.

21. Breed puppies and sell them

22. Start selling baked goods

23. Teach a musical instrument

10 Real Estate Ways Your Home Can Build Generational Wealth

24. House Hack Your Property
If you purchase a duplex, triplex, or a home with a basement apartment, you can live in one unit while renting the others. The rental income can significantly offset or even eliminate your housing cost.

 25. Add an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
A small backyard cottage or garage apartment can become a long-term rental or short-term rental that generates consistent income.

 26. Convert Unused Space into a Rental
Many homes have unfinished basements, garages, or bonus rooms that can be converted into livable spaces that produce income.

 27. Purchase Land and Hold It Long Term
Land historically tends to appreciate over time. Holding land patiently can be a powerful way to pass wealth down to future generations.

 28. Invest in a Short-Term Rental Property
Vacation rentals or short-term rentals can generate significant income if managed well.

 29. Buy a Fixer-Upper and Improve It
Improving a property through renovation can create substantial equity and increase the value of your investment.

 30. Rent to Traveling Professionals
Some homeowners rent rooms or small units to traveling nurses or professionals, which often produces stable income.

 31. Purchase a Small Multi-Family Property
Multi-family homes can create multiple income streams from a single property.

 32. Acquire Property for Future Development
Sometimes purchasing land with the long-term potential for development can multiply its value over time.

 33. Pass Property Down Through Generations
Many families build long-term stability by holding onto property and passing it to children and grandchildren rather than selling it.