Our third lesson from 1 Samuel is subtitled “Bad Boys”. As Samuel grows up serving the LORD under the care of Eli, the sons of Eli the priest are living in ways that treat God, and the people of Israel, with great contempt. They use their positions for personal gain and for their own pleasure at the expense of the people they were supposed to serve. They used their authority to “bully” any who would question their tactics and requirements. They counted on the people fulfilling the requirements of God’s law in bringing their sacrifices while they ignored the rules and regulations God had set for them as priests in accepting and offering the sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. They were the poster boys for the phrase, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”!
As I read through this story in 1 Samuel, the question, “Where’s dad?”, keeps running through my mind. As the reading continues, it becomes obvious that “dad” is there all along. Eli is living life and going about his daily tasks; perhaps oblivious to the actions of his boys at times, but more often deliberately turning a blind eye to their activities because he is benefitting from some of what they do! When the public complaints reach a critical mass and begin to tarnish his image, he makes a show of reprimanding his sons — but in a “too little, too late” manner. I can almost hear him now . . . “They’re really good boys at heart.” “They don’t really intend to cause so much trouble.” “Deep down they mean well — I mean, look at all the nice meals they bring me.”
Take away the Bible names and references and what do you have? It’s a story that is far too familiar and lived out far too often in our world today. If I look at it in the large-scale picture, I see so many of our modern-day politicians — using the power and influence of their position for their own benefit. Yet even knowing that, how often do we as voters look the other way because we benefit from some of the “special projects” they support? Everyone is opposed to government waste, pork projects, and whatever else you want to call it, until it directly benefits them and then don’t you dare talk of cutting it!
But I digress! 🙂 It is easy to look at others, point fingers, and say, “shame on you”. But what about closer to home? Where to you see yourself in the story? I would say for most of us it is probably at different, and even multiple, places at varying times in our life. At times it is easy to be the bad boys — the disobedient children who don’t care because we like the perceived benefit that comes from our actions. We have the power and ability to do what we want and no one is going to stop us! At other times we may be more like the dad — those near and dear to us are doing wrong and everyone knows it but they’re just too cute to really do much about it. Besides that, the “supplies” they bring home from work help stretch an already tight budget — I sure wouldn’t want them to get all “legalistic” on me now, would I?
God calls us to be holy as He is holy. Not an easy task. As a matter of fact, an impossible task without the indwelling power of His Spirit within us. Part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement. (John 16:8) When we are faced with decisions regarding those things which are good and just and the things which are only for our temporary selfish benefit, God’s Spirit and His Word speak to us to guide us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
It is easy to look around and take the path that everyone else seems to be travelling. A path where we blend in and we hope no one notices just how far off course we really are. My prayer and challenge for each of us is that we look higher and take that narrow path, the path that few find. It is this path that shows the world that our purpose is much higher . . . our destination is eternal life with our Lord and Saviour!
