TRAGIC STORY, CRUCIAL LESSON
1 Samuel 2:30 CSB
Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: “I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever.” But now, this is the Lord’s declaration, “No Longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced.”
1 Samuel 2:12-13 NLT
Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests.
1 Samuel 4:18 NLT
When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and very fat.
The story of Eli and his sons is a tragic story containing a crucial lesson for us all. Will we live a life that honors God? Will we raise children that honor God? Nothing is more important!
God had a wonderful plan for Eli the Priest. God wanted to use him and his family to bring God glory and use them in a powerful way in the nation of Israel. But Eli blew it big time. Eli would not control his own appetite, nor did he teach his sons to control their appetite and honor God. Eli’s sons would steal food that was meant as a holy sacrifice and offering to God, and use it to gorge themselves. This greatly dishonored the Lord. They treated God with great contempt. Eli knew his sons were seducing some of the young women who served at the entrance of the tabernacle, but he did nothing consequential about it. Eventually, Eli’s sons were killed. Eli himself, because he was so fat from his gluttonous life, and dishonorable walk with God, fell backward in his chair and broke his neck. This is a story we all need to pay extreme attention to. We must not miss the crucial lesson of this tragic story.
Are we living a life to honor God? Are our children living their lives to honor God?
All of us will make mistakes, all of us will sin in one way or another. But, will the consistent, intentional, purpose and pursuit of our life be to honor God or please our flesh? Will we strive to honor God in this world, marching to the beat of the divine drum, or compromise with the culture and its values, embracing its behaviors and customs as our own? What about our children? How are we helping them live their lives to honor God right now as we raise them?
Let me be very forthright. Millions of Christians today, like Eli, are spiritually fat and lethargic. Meaning, they feed ad nauseam on spiritual messages, Christian books, Christian youtube videos and worship music. Which are all very good things, but most Christians are not doing, nor putting into practice, the things they hear and learn. Lots of “talk”, little to no “walk”! They’ve become spiritually fat, puffed-up on “spiritual knowledge”, lazy and lukewarm. Many Christian church teen groups are filled with cliques, the boys chasing girls and girls chasing boys. They are entertainment-based ministries, with teenagers who aren’t living lives that honor God. The current state of much of Christianity in America is abysmal. Millions of Christians are more concerned about their “likes” from their “friends”, than their “likes” from God. All of this is absolutely disgraceful. It must be acknowledged, repented of, and changed.
I urge you to reread the story of Eli and his sons. Ponder the crucial lesson of that tragic story. It’s one that truthfully, is rarely thought about, taught about, or remembered by most Christians.
James 3:13 NLT
If you are wise and understand God’s ways — prove it by living an honorable life!
Colossians 1:9-10 NLT
We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better!
My friends, A life That Honors God, always leads to a life of service to others. Are we continually doing good, kind things for others? Are our children and teens doing good, kind things for others? That’s where the rubber meets the road, a telltale sign of a life that Honors God!
Please, please listen to this message. It’s from the last series I ever preached!
https://strongdisciple.com/
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
