One of the signs of wisdom is to think beyond yourself and consider those who will come after you. Generational thinking means living with the awareness that your actions today will either bless or burden the next generation.
Sadly, many people live only for the moment. Like tenants who rent a house and, upon leaving, abandon the place in disarray, walls cracked, rooms messy, fittings broken, they think little about the one who will come after them. The next occupant is forced to spend more resources on renovation simply because someone lacked foresight.
The same attitude is often seen in everyday life. Sometimes when food, drinks, or a buffet is being shared, a few people rush to take more than they need, forgetting those still in line. Some even grab two or three packs, not only for themselves but to send home to their families, while others who were waiting patiently are left with little or nothing.
That behaviour reflects a mindset that thinks only of the now and the self rather than the next and the others. But there are also examples of people who model generational thinking in very practical ways. My father, Rev. Paul Badu Poku, a minister of the Church of Pentecost, has always demonstrated this principle. Anytime he is transferred to a new mission house, before leaving, he ensures the house is painted, all cracks repaired, and damages fixed. He makes sure the place is neat and beautiful for the next minister and his family. He often says: “If you cannot improve it, at least maintain it the way you met it.” That principle reflects true stewardship and generational wisdom, leaving things better, or at the very least not worse, than how you found them.
This mindset is what the Bible commends. “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22, NIV). This inheritance is not only money or property, it is also a legacy of fairness, discipline, faith, and order. A shining biblical example is the story of the daughters of Zelophehad, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah (Numbers 27:1–7). Their father had died without sons, and according to custom, his family’s land portion was at risk of being lost. But these women refused to think only of themselves.
They went to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of Israel to plead their case: “Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” (Numbers 27:4). God Himself affirmed their request, saying, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property…” (Numbers 27:4).
Their boldness preserved their father’s inheritance and secured land for generations yet unborn. This is the heart of generational thinking. Unlike the careless tenant who leaves chaos for the next occupant, or the selfish person at the buffet line who takes without thought of others, Rev. Paul Badu Poku and the daughters of Zelophehad modelled a different spirit, one that leaves behind blessings, order, and provision for others.
Generational thinking means asking yourself: “Will my decisions today make life easier or harder for the next person?” It is about stewardship, handling what is in your hands in such a way that those who come after you can build on it, not rebuild it.
“When we fail to think generationally, we multiply costs, frustrations, and cycles of repair. But when we walk in wisdom, we plant seeds that future generations can harvest with joy.”
