THURSDAY October 4, 2018
Lack of Spiritual Leadership
Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.”
1 Samuel 2:22-23
Notice the seriousness of the sin of Eli’s sons; they not only abhorred the sacrifices, but they were having sex with the women who cleaned outside the tabernacle. Eli’s sons were guilty of seducing the women who served the Lord. Notice, Eli did not really discipline his sons; he just talked to them. What were they doing still working in the house of the Lord? Eli should have kicked them out! He let them continue to sin when they should have been removed from their priestly positions.
In the Bible, we find other men who were weak in the area of disciplining their children. Even though King David was a strong leader, he was not a good disciplinarian. His sons caused havoc in his kingdom. Amnon lay with his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1-14). In revenge, Absalom killed his brother Amnon (2 Samuel 13:23-29), and later, in rebellion and pride, Absalom took over the throne of David and raped his father’s ten concubines (2 Samuel 16:20-22).
It is important for you as a father to be the spiritual leader in the home. It is good to be a strong leader as a father, but remain balanced in your discipline of your children. As you correct your children, teach them to check their hearts before the Lord. Read the Proverbs to them! Remember, as a father, you have to set a good pattern of leadership for them to follow. Then they have to make a final decision on who they will serve (Joshua 24:15).
There is no such thing as a self-made spiritual leader. He is able to influence others spiritually only because the Spirit is able to work in and through him to a greater degree than in those he leads.
~Oswald Sanders~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
