His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. (Psalm 112:2-3)

The theme of this entire psalm focuses on the benefit of fearing God and living a life that is upright and honorable in Heaven’s eyes. As the psalmist said in the first line, such a person is blessed. In these verses, the psalmist begins to detail the benefits that are bestowed upon those who serve the Lord with purity of heart and with gladness. To begin with, the wise and righteous man will be regarded with honor by those who share the same values. The irony of this is the blessed man does not seek notoriety or prestige, only the comfort of knowing that God is pleased with him. To obtain the favor and goodness of the Lord is the greatest of all riches.

Just as a man great in material riches leaves an inheritance to his heirs, the righteous man does likewise for his offspring. In his case, the wealth of wisdom and insight gained through years of dedicated service to the Lord will be passed on to future generations through his children and grandchildren. It doesn’t necessarily begin and end with his literal offspring but is passed on to all who glean spiritual understanding from his teaching and example, i.e. his disciples. Remember, all who follow the Messiah are commanded to do this very thing; as He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The point we are making today is that our service to God does not end when we die. If we  follow the path He has set before us, which includes gleaning from the Godly example of those who have come before us, the spiritual impact of our lives can extend for generations. As it is said in the verses above: “his righteousness endures forever.” Of course, anything of any good report or renown that we accomplish in this life is not due to our ability and strength alone because, “without Messiah we can do nothing” (John 15:5). Yet when we do acknowledge His sovereignty and develop a fear of God that provokes us to walk in submission to His Will, so many benefits are made available to us. Then through our obedience, others — our natural and spiritual offspring — carry the blessing of God with them into the future. Given this understanding, may your house be filled with wealth and riches, and may the Lord bestow His blessings upon you and your children.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill