1 Samuel 2:29
Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’
This was a scathing message from the man of God to Eli. Eli was in charge of the temple worship. Eli’s sons worked in the temple too. Eli’s sons unfortunately were corrupt and did not follow the temple protocol for conducting worship as sacrifices were brought.
Eli’s sons used their position to enrich themselves corruptly. They did not take the part of the sacrifice that was assigned to them, instead they forced the worshippers to give them whatever they wanted. The place of worship for them had become a place of corrupt dealings toward quick wealth.
Eli rebuked his sons but it wasn’t enough, they didn’t change. Eli warned his sons that what they were doing was offensive to God. Eli told his sons that he had heard that they were not only enriching themselves but also engaging in sexual immorality with worshippers, 1 Samuel 2: 22-25. However, Eli’s response to his sons’ misconduct was not sufficient, and eventually, it was too little too late.
There are times which our response must show total resolve. Half-hearted responses to problems do not solve problems, instead, they enhance problems. Eli’s response was not sufficient. He rebuked his sons but that wasn’t enough, God expected more. He rebuked his sons but he feared them or pampered them and didn’t want to offend them. That wasn’t love, it was foolishness and they died for it.
We must be tough in dealing with erratic children’s behavior so that the direction a parent desires is clear. But when we speak to children just for the record that we have highlighted a problem, they will learn nothing but will accelerate in the wrong direction. Eli’s address of his children’s problems was half-hearted and empty.
Eli had given up on his children. What killed him was not the news of his children’s death, but that the Ark of the Covenant had been captured by enemies, 1 Samuel 4:17-18. Children take note, you can stress your parents until they give up on you and that is not a good place to be. Don’t do that to your parents, please! Dear parents, do not give up on your children as much as possible
In our text today, the man of God brings a negative prophecy to Eli. He condemns Eli for not reigning in his sons. That means God was not satisfied with what Eli had done to address the issue. Eli rebuked his sons, but God says he should have done more. Maybe fire them from temple service, etc.
God through the messenger condemns Eli for honoring his sons more than God. How he handled the matter showed that he couldn’t go so far because he had a higher regard for his sons. God says “You love your sons more than me.” Therefore the sons died and Eli too died. We shouldn’t love anyone more than God, Luke 18:29-30.
God can see through our pretense. As Eli pretended to counsel and warn his sons, God knew he couldn’t do more than that and he probably wasn’t serious. We must determine to be honest in our dealings with God without a shred of doubt.
God knows and sees when we do things for the sake of it. When we return tithes and offerings for the sake of it. When we leave the door for temptation open then pretend to have walked away so that when we fall we seem not to blame. God says I can see. You love it more than Me. I can see you didn’t really forgive, you set up the person so that you blame them for not being fit to be forgiven. God says I know and I see. When we do things half-heartedly, we show that we love it more than God, or that we love God less than that thing or person.
Eli was condemned for loving his sons more than God. Do we love our spouses and fiancees more than God? Do we love our jobs and sources of income more than God? Do we love our parents and children more than God? Are your gadgets more important than God?
I pray that I will not honor anything or anyone more than God, in Jesus’s name, Amen?
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AMEN
Amen!
God first and best in my life. Thank you mchungagi.
Hallelujah!
May I truly love God first in my life more than anyone or anything. 🙏
Amen!
Amen, May we honor God before everything else in our day to day activities. God bless you Pr.
Be blessed too, Nina!
Teach us to to honor you and teach the children you have given us to be loyal to you Lord..
Amen!
Amen.Thanks Doc.
Amen!