Welcome!
Passage: 1 Sam 2 (NIV 84)
Today: Honoring something more than God?
29 Why do you[f] 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?’ (1 Sam 2, NIV 84)-emphasis added
God was mad at Eli for honoring his sons more than God.
Frankly speaking, you and I have not put God 1st, even though we may say so.
It is about who we think about the most, speak/write about the most, and what we do most, in a day! How much time we spent with/for God in a day?
That will tell us how much we love God
Knowingly or unknowingly, God gets only a portion of the honor we give to many other things in life; we need to develop a “culture” of honoring God more, in our personal and family life (if God deserves more honor)
30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and your father’s house would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. (1 Samuel 2, NIV 84)-emphasis added
12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord. (1 Samuel 2, NIV 84)-emphasis added
God honors those who honor God; but the problem is that most of us are after the honor of the world, not God
Many spiritual parents forget to teach their children to honor God!
Whether in our physical or spiritual life, when we come towards the end of our life on earth, our health and spirituality depends a lot on how we have been contributing towards it every day; those who have been eating right, exercising & taking care of their body will definitely reap the rewards of doing so; in the same way, our prayer, Bible study and fellowship will contribute towards our spiritual growth. There will always be temptations that haunt us, but the one who overcomes them, will be victorious! We need to honor God with everything; our spirit, soul, body, time, talents, resources, etc
You may know many stories of how God blessed the family of many who went out for ministry. You may also know people who did not follow God’s directions in life, and ended up paying a big price for that!
Let us not make the mistake of putting God behind; if we put Him behind, we will end up paying big; know what He has called you for, and move forward in that direction!
God has done everything for us, and we can never pay it all back-never! Yet, it is O.K to ask God, “Lord, what can I do for you?”
Have a blessed day!
BG
Prayer: Almighty God, you loved us too much and gave Christ as a ransom for us; that was proof of your love! Teach us to love and honor you as you deserve, for we have literally ignored you many times, and we ask pardon for that. Help us God, to love and honor you practically, more than anything else; In Jesus’ name, Amen
God put us first, even as we put Him last; try putting Him first!