A Godly Legacy

Just how important is a father's influence? Jonathan Edwards, was a famous New York minister in the 1700s.  He married his wife Sara in 1727 and they were blessed with eleven children. Every night when Edwards was home, he spent an hour conversing with his family and praying a blessing over each child. 

Near the beginning of 20th century, American educator, A.E. Winship traced the descendants of Edwards. His findings were remarkable. Of 1,026 descendants, Jonathan Edwards’ legacy included: 285 college graduates, 75 military officers, 80 public office holders, 100 lawyers, 100 clergymen, 60 doctors, 65 professors, 3 mayors, 13 college presidents, 30 judges, 1 Dean of a law school, 1 dean of a medical school, 3 U.S. Senators, 3 governors, and 1 Vice-President of the United States. 

During that same period, another man, Max Jukes, also lived in New York. In contrast to Edwards, Jukes was an atheist, who rejected Jesus and refused to allow his children to attend church. Jukes’ legacy was studied by sociologist Richard L. Dugdale in 1877 when it came to public attention that 42 different men in the New York prison system were traced back to him. Jukes’ descendants included: 7 murderers, 60 thieves, 190 prostitutes, 150 other convicts, 310 paupers, and 440 who were physically wrecked by addiction to alcohol. Of the 1,200 descendants that were studied, 300 died prematurely. (Source:  ywam-fmi.org)

Dugdale also found that Jukes' descendants had cost the state in excess of $1,250,000,000--and that's when a billion dollars was worth lot of money! Keep in mind, these statistics are over 100 years old!

These contrasting legacies provide tangible proof that a father's leadership choices, have a profound influence on his family for generations. A godly or ungodly legacy can be passed on for hundreds of years. God instructs men, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Eph.6:4). That's perhaps the simplest and also hardest thing in the world to do! So, let me repeat the opening question: "Just how important is a father's influence?" I'll let you figure out the answer to that one!