The Heart of a Leader: Lessons From the Life of David Sample

Day Five — Leaving a Legacy

Your decisions don’t just dictate your life — they determine your legacy. Every time you choose patience, honor, authenticity, and integrity you’re laying the foundation for someone behind you to keep building something beautiful. 

Facebook’s CEO, Sheryl Sandberg, once said, “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”

True leadership isn’t about making a name for yourself — it’s about making a lasting impact for others. 

When David’s life was coming to an end, he called his son, Solomon, to his side. David proceeded to leave Solomon with words of wisdom and guidance on how to be an even better leader. We can see this in 1 Kings 2:3.

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. 

David pointed Solomon in the right direction by pointing him to God. And not only did David leave words of wisdom to Solomon, but in 1 Chronicles 28, David left physical plans to build the temple as well. David was intentional about setting Solomon up for success in both a spiritual and physical sense.

When you pour into others, you’re ensuring that the work God’s doing in and through you doesn’t die with you but lives on through the hearts you’ve touched. 

What are some ways you can set up the next leader or next generation for success? Who might be standing on the shoulders of your faith right now? What will your lasting impact be as a leader? Will it simply be a list of achievements, or will it be a legacy of people who were changed by the way you lived?