Success requires having the ability to understand the process of succession. Meaning, no one lives forever; or for that matter, functions well forever. Great race car drivers eventually hand the car to someone younger and with quicker reflexes. Businesses that flourish for years often reach decline and failure because of the leaders inability to release what they have built into the hand of the next generation. The next generation brings new strength and insight to the table. It brings a “hands on” understanding of the current generation of consumers or congregants.
Living in a pastor’s home, I understand the sentiment of a lot of pastors – a sentiment held by one of the most powerfully anointed ministers on the planet – my grandfather. His wish was to labor as a pastor and die preaching in the pulpit, after being completely poured out. My dad wisely communicated that he should reconsider a different way to finish, because while it sounds heroic, it would probably bring great damage to those sitting in the congregation in that moment.
Pastors and many “mom and pop” entrepreneurs carry the mindset that to quit is to give up. They have no plan for a future and no thought as to what will happen to the work they have accomplished once they are gone.
The Bible invests a great deal of communication about generational succession. God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His eye focused on the generations of the seed of Abraham and the development of His children, Israel. You can see the dangers of ignoring proper succession in the lives of Eli and his sons, Samuel, the judge, who did not properly prepare and release his sons, Saul, who was chosen because of the people being frustrated with Samuel’s situation and David, who repeated much of the shortcomings of Samuel in his own children.
Failure to plan for succession is incredibly detrimental to the generation of sons and daughters who follow you and also to the work that you may have spent a lifetime working to build. Pass the baton too late and the generation lives their entire life out of season. The energy and drive they could bring to the work is diminished before it is started. Instead of increase, it begins to decline, or worse "stalemates" and becomes an entity that exists, but remains powerless. God's desire is advancement of the kingdom and that requires succession. If you pay attention to God’s plan, you will see His plan always taking into consideration the generations to come. “This will be to your children, their children and and so on…”
In planning anything, you should take into consideration the third generation. Every action you take, everything you build, everything you invest of your life and into your destiny should consider the generations beyond you…to the third power. It is the way you build legacy, which is also a godly principle.
I will blog more on this and in much greater detail. For now, I just want to invoke some thoughts about your future and your destiny.
What will you do when you are no longer doing what you do right now?
What will become of the work you are dong?
What are you building that will honesty be able to be carried by the next generation?
What provision have you made which will allow the next generation to operate and function NOW, while they are in their prime?
What consideration have you taken with regard to you future beyond what you are doing right now so that you will be able to release what you are doing at the right time, rather than just the “necessary” time. (A lot of people would make a change now if they could afford to.)
Destiny does not just occur. Legacy does not simply “happen”. Both are something that God placed in your life as your responsibility. They become what you make them through His wisdom and the power of His Holy Spirit.
Consider what you are building. Consider what you are creating for the future generations in your life. It will make the difference in what you really do for the Kingdom!
T
