Generational wealth is wealth that is passed down from one generation to the next. While such wealth is usually financial, faith is also part of our spiritual wealth and should be shared across generations. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen and without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11: 1,6)
Today, there is much division amongst generations (Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, etc.), with each having its unique characteristics, values, attitudes and outlook on life possibly shaped by their diverse life experiences. However, these differences should not stop us from sharing our faith across generations.
The following are a few examples of how we can share our faith, especially in the congregation and as a family:
- Praying together: Our theme for this year is “Prayer Works,” and the beauty of praying is that we can do it together in a wonderful multigenerational setting. We pray in faith as we express our belief and trust in our Heavenly Father, knowing He hears us and will help. (Mark 11: 24)
- Talking together: Speaking of our experiences of faith helps to strengthen the listener, and while most of the sharing may be done by our seniors or elders, we can gain inspiration from the younger ones as they, too, have experiences of faith. (Psalms 66: 16)
- Mentoring someone: A mentor works closely as a strong example of faith to help fellow believers navigate difficult challenges in life where they can recognize God’s help and have their own personal experience of faith. This can be as simple as pointing out the effects of their prayers and making the connection. (Proverbs 27: 17)
I have the privilege of experiencing the results of this sharing with the many faithful youth we have today in our congregations, and I am thankful for those who have taken the time to invest in them.
In closing, whether in-person, or we use FaceTime for some faith time, or we Zoom in on what matters, regardless of our resources and comfort level with technology, let us keep sharing our faith with the hope that the question that the Lord Jesus asks in Luke 18: 8, “
when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” can be answered with a resounding YES across generations.