What we leave behind, our legacy, it’s not something we always think about but it really should be.  If you had to give your child one last piece of advice what would it be?

King David right before he died said this to his son Solomon: “‘I am about to go the way of all the earth,’ he said. ‘So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.’” (1 Kings 2:2-3)

I like that David actually tells Solomon to “act like a Man.” That makes me laugh every time I read it.  To a large extent, our culture has devalued what it means to be a man. It has even defined such a thing as an undesirable trait, but this was not always the case.

In our culture, young men often lack an understanding of what it is to “act like a man”.  David defines what it is to “be strong and act like a man” by telling Solomon to walk in obedience to God.  As Homeschool Dads the best way we can teach this is by example.  Getting up in the morning and spending time with Jesus.  Reading the Bible to our kids and praying together around the dinner table.  I remember my own father reading the Bible to my mother every morning.  Now after he has passed away, I look through his Bible and see all the passages he had underlined and the notes he wrote in the margins. Pages and pages of notes and underlines, this man read the word.  I remember every dinner he prayed with us around the table.  I remember him bringing us to church each Sunday morning, no matter how much we protested.   He wasn’t a preacher or a missionary, he was a businessman, but he taught me by example what it was to be a man.  Because of his example I now do the same for my son.

King David made a point to pass on this instruction to his son so that he may “prosper in all he does and wherever he goes".  David knew how important his family line was.  After all, the savior of all mankind was to be one of his descendants.  David left a legacy, his son Solomon became recognized as one of the wisest kings that had ever lived.  As dads there is a lot of pressure on us to provide for our families, be a good husband, a good father, a spiritual leader, a mentor, a teacher, a counselor, and financial planner.  But ultimately everything we do can be accomplished by simply listening to King David’s dying words to his son, and walk in obedience to God.

by Pastor Eric Maggio, HCS Board Member