It is a terrible thing to pass through life without leaving any worthy mark. It is true that everyone does some activities, but mere activities are not enough. The famous American inventor and businessman, Thomas A. Edison, captured this truth thus, "Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing."

Genealogical listing, such as we have in today's text, hardly has room for any significant comment on the lives of the names listed. All that we have is a hint of their position in the family tree, names and number of their offspring. But in verses 12 and 13, the Chronicler could not gloss over the worthy legacies of two sets of people. Their deeds got attached to their names.

The sons of Elpaal built Ono and Lod and their adjoining towns while Beriah and Shema, heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, drove away the inhabitants of Gath. Gath was one of the five principal cities of Israel's long-standing enemies; the home of powerful figures like Goliath.

This is our time. Our history is still in the making. A new book of Chronicles is being compiled. Each of us has an ample chance to make a difference. The good news here is that the measuring scale is no longer about any superhuman exploits; rather, being faithful to God and, by His grace, living a holy life and impacting other people's lives positively. It is about preaching the gospel and doing things that will promote God's kingdom. The all-seeing and impartial God is keeping the record of our lives and will reward us accordingly.