Welcome to Redemption Church.
We are not a mega Church, but we are a mighty Church. We are seeing God do BIG things in Plano Tx and throughout the world.
My name is Chris Fluitt.

We are excited about our next message series starting next week. We will be jumping into big questions together. Bring a friend!

Today, we are in the final week of our Grow Mode series.

Someone told me, “Pastor last year when you spoke about money, I checked out. I was angry, frustrated, ashamed of my money situation.  But now, a year later, in this series I feel like I have hope for my finances because I have a plan.” 

I know all too well how painful talking about money is.
In week 1 we talked about debt.
In week 2 we talked about growing wealth.
Today we are going to talk about a Legacy That Lasts.

Legacy That Lasts

Let me take you back to a moment I had a few years ago when I was sitting at my kitchen table, looking at my bank account and a stack of unopened mail. I wasn’t thinking about legacy. I was thinking, “Can I make it to next payday without overdrafting?” 

The idea of retirement felt like science fiction. Inheritance? That was something rich people talked about.

But then I remembered something that hit me hard: I wasn’t just living for me. I was shaping a path for those who would come after me. Every choice I made—even the small ones—was writing the story my family would one day read. That was the first time I started thinking about legacy.

Can you relate? Maybe you’re in that same boat. You’re doing everything you can just to stay afloat. You’ve got bills, kids, maybe aging parents. Retirement planning is somewhere between “I’ll get to it later” and “Isn’t that what Social Security is for?” And inheritance? Maybe we should let the kids fend for themselves…

Here’s the truth:
If we don’t live by design, we will live by default. And if we don’t intentionally build a legacy, we will unintentionally pass on a burden.

Some of us watched our parents struggle, and now we’re doing the same.
If we’re not careful, we’ll hand down that pressure instead of peace.

But here’s the good news: 

You don’t have to be wealthy to leave a legacy. You just have to be wise.

Jesus has a lot to say about this subject. Let’s be really clear: 

Jesus is not anti-money. 

Some people get confused about that. Jesus isn’t asking you to be broke, poor, or financially insecure as a way of being more spiritual or humble.

Jesus is not against you having money—He’s against money having you.

There is a big difference.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21

This is not a ban on bank accounts or 401(k)s. It’s a heart check. Jesus is warning us that what we do with our money reveals what’s going on in our hearts.

Your money always tells a story—and that story always points to your heart.

Jesus invites us to think long-term. To shift our focus from what fades to what lasts. 

Jesus says earthly treasure fades. It gets eaten, rusted, stolen. But there’s another kind of treasure that can never be taken away—eternal treasure.

What if your money touched eternal things? What if your time was spent on eternal things? What if your giftings were invested in eternal things?

What if your budget didn’t just touch this month, but touched eternity? What if your giving changed someone’s eternity? What if your spending reflected your values instead of your cravings?

Values vs Cravings

Let’s talk about that difference for a second. Your values say, “Love others. Serve like Jesus. Be generous.” But your cravings? They’re shouting, “Get the shoes. Upgrade the phone. You deserve it.”

You say you value helping others, but then something scrolls by on Amazon or Instagram—and suddenly your craving hijacks your budget.

Cravings are loud. They’re urgent. They’re impulsive.
Values are quiet. They’re steady. They’re intentional.

Cravings fill your closet.
Values fill your life with meaning.
Cravings give you packages.
Values give you purpose.

So what if you built a budget based on eternal values—not earthly cravings?

That’s what Jesus is getting at. Not anti-money—intentional money.

In order to touch eternity, we have to look past temporary cravings. We have to look past today’s problems. We have to look onward into the future—beyond just what we want now, and even beyond our own lifetime.

And Proverbs 13 gives us a glimpse of what that kind of future-minded living looks like:

Proverbs 13:22

In other words, a good person doesn’t just think about what they’re passing on to their own kids—but to the kids they may never even meet. What if you built something today that would bless your grandchildren’s children? What if your choices now created freedom and faith for generations to come?

That’s long game thinking. Generational vision. It’s not about dying with the most stuff—it’s about living with the most purpose.

I have a couple of terms I want you to understand.
A beneficiary receives a blessing. That’s us—we’ve received grace, salvation, and provision through Jesus.

A benefactor gives a blessing. That’s also us—we’re called to use what we’ve been given to bless others.

In spiritual terms, we are called to be both a beneficiary and a benefactor.

Here’s a quick video from our financial planner friend Dan Klonowski, that helps bring this home.

[DAN KLONOWSKI VID]

Thank you Dan.
That’s the heart of legacy: You’ve received much, and now you get to pass it on.

You’re not just here to benefit—you’re here to be a benefit. Let’s keep building that kind of legacy.

2 Corinthians 12:14

God doesn’t want your kids carrying what you didn’t prepare for.

Far too many people are handing down burdens instead of blessings. We’re handing down bills instead of benefits. And not just bills—we’re also passing down broken mindsets about money, generosity, and purpose.

God wants your life to be a blessing, not a burden. Your financial story can lift the next generation—or weigh them down. Let’s choose blessing.

Acts 20:35

Those are Jesus’ own words. And who better to tell us that than the One who gave everything?

This is what it means to live with purpose. You weren’t just given provision—you were given the opportunity to provide. You weren’t just called to receive—you were called to reflect God’s generosity.

Scripture’s clear. Legacy isn’t just about what you leave behind. It’s about how you live right now.

How are you living?
How will you push back against the culture of craving and make your money matter?

1. Be retirement ready.
Not to escape—but to bless. Retirement is not about quitting work. It’s about making sure your children don’t have to carry what you didn’t prepare for.

One way to do that? Include legacy giving as part of your plan. Consider leaving a gift in your will—whether that’s a charitable gift, an endowment, or simply naming your Church or another ministry as a beneficiary. That kind of planning says: “I’m not just preparing for myself. I’m preparing to bless others, even after I’m gone.”

2. Use your money to bless others.
Give with purpose. Support the mission of God. We love it when you support the missions and ministry of Redemption Church—but we would never want to limit your giving to just right here.

Give wherever you can. Make your money matter. Touch eternity. Help a single parent. Feed someone. Fund something that points people to Jesus.

3. Push back against materialism.
Culture says buy more, upgrade faster, show it off. Stop being a victim of marketing! Choose meaning over marketing.
Jesus says build something that lasts. 

You don’t have to be rich to leave a legacy. You just have to be willing to live wisely, love freely, and give generously.

Redemption Church, imagine this: A community that lives open-handed. That plans ahead. That gives now. That leaves something better behind.

A people who don’t just talk about legacy but actually build it. Together we can do this.

Let’s take it back to the words of Jesus:

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Jesus

This is a heart issue.
We need to pray about this.
We need to make a decision to act.
3 Calls to Make $$$ Matter:

1. Plan Wisely.
Start tracking. Start saving. Start preparing. Legacy is built one decision at a time.
Ask for help.

2. Live Open-Handed.
Let go of fear. Let go of greed. Let go of chasing more. And let God lead your financial story.

3. Touch Eternity – Ask for God’s help
Pray and worship.
Let this be a moment you store up treasure in Heaven.