09/16/11

We had our pond study field trip today and this picture reminds me of it.  We had a good time and no one fell in the pond! 

I read this in my devotions the other night and have been "chewing" on it ever since.  It causes one to stop and think that as a parent we have a huge responsibility to rear our children in the ways of the Lord.  The words in red are from my Dwell devotional.

I Samuel 2:12-34 (If you can... it would be great to read this passage of Scripture!)

Eli and His Sons

Have you ever been with a parent that obeys his child - instead of the other way around?  In most cases, the child has no respect for the parent and constantly throws a fit to ensure that he gets his way.  Oftentimes these children grow up without respect for their parents, family, others, or God.  As adults, they can possess a sense of entitlement and a lack of conscience that creates havoc for those around them.

That describes the actions of Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli.  Even though their dad was the high priest of Israel, Hophni and Phinehas did not know the Lord (v. 12).  That was their main problem, and it became a major problem for many people.  Eli never got through to his sons.  The Bible tells us that they did not listen to the voice of their father (v. 25).

Parents are to love their children, teach them, spend time with them, and discipline them.  This prepares them for life's realities.  Hophni and Phinehas are both examples of undisciplined, untrained terros.

Among their vile behaviors, Eli's sons committed fornication with the women who served at the tabernacle (v. 22).  Eli warned them, but they were defiant and refused to repent.  Regrettably, Eli's weak verbal caution - he took no action to prevent his sons from such wickedness - caused him immeasurable harm.  By condoning their sin, Eli had shown preferences for his sons above the Lord.  Because of this, he was unworthy of the Lord's blessing (v. 29-34).

The blessing of the Lord for Eli would have been that his family would have stayed in the Priesthood.  Unfortunately, that was taken from him and his sons in their sudden deaths, and those that remained in the family were eventually taken out of the line.  

Using discipline and consistency with our children can be challenging but it is worth the effort.  When our children see that we "mean what we say and we say what we mean" that shows them stability and a consistency that allows them to thrive in a safe environment. Over the years I have observed many parents who have allowed their children to run over them just as Eli allowed.  This only caused great heartache for the parent and a child who refused to listen to authority.  When a child will not listen to his/her parents, that child will also not learn to listen to the greatest Authority - the Lord.

Learn to be the parent and instead of your child telling you what they will and will not do.  The Lord will bless that.... and one day your children will thank you for it!

Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.