Jump Start # 1627

1 Samuel 2:12 “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the Lord.”

 We heard a great lesson yesterday at our congregation from a talented young preacher about Eli and his boys. It was a powerful reminder to all of us about our roles as parents. Hands on is the only way we can help shape the moral and spiritual direction of others. It’s not the church’s job, but the parents role to raise their children up in the Lord.

What a blunt statement our verse starts with, “the sons of Eli were worthless men.” Such language would not be acceptable today. Some would tell us to find good in them. There is good in everyone, we are told. That search for something good, often leads one to overlooking the obvious wrong. God called these boys worthless. They were priests serving God’s people, yet they were worthless. They did what they wanted to do and they ignored and violated the law of God. They were not leading the nation to God but being terrible role models and indifferent to the important roles that they played.

This leads us to understand that:

1. Not everyone in leadership roles lead. Some don’t care. Some are selfish. Sometimes the worst person may be elected, chosen or appointed to a position. You may witness this at work. Some in management roles do not manage. Some feed office gossip, help turn co-workers against each other and are responsible for creating a toxic and unhealthy environment. It’s hard to deal with this when the boss is acting this way. Some play favorites. Some bend the rules for some but not for others.

Eli’s sons were priests, but they weren’t acting very priestly. They abused the sacrifice. They did things by force. They were immoral and not good examples. They trashed the roles that they were in.

Spiritually, the same has happened in the church. Preachers and elders have trashed their roles, taken advantage of others, bent the rules to their favor, made sure that they benefited financially and ruined things for those who follow. The role of leadership is to lead. You are to help things be better. You are to smooth out problems and not be the source of problems. You are to be the go-to person when there are problems. But more than that, you are paving the way for those who follow you. You are leaving footprints of how things ought to be. The way some have handed things over to the next generation is shameful. They have left the church in a mess. They have discouraged and destroyed the work of God. Worthless leaders can be found today.

2. Not everyone in God’s family is godly. They ought to be, but some are not. Look at these rotten apples in Eli’s family. They broke so many commands doing what they wanted to do. There doesn’t seem to be any humbleness, devotion to God or interests in doing what God said. Sometimes Christians can be mean, ugly in spirit and hurtful. We can be hurt more by fellow Christians than people of the world. Judgmental. Finger pointing. Demanding. Loud. Offensive. Rude. Such should never be found among Christians, but it has and it continues. Eli’s boys, men as they there, because Eli was old, never seemed to appreciate the position and honor that they were in. This is a classic temptation of second and third generation Christians. We’ve grown up knowing only this. We know the songs. We know the routine. We take some of this for granted and have not used this wonderful opportunity to help us, rather, we have misused it to our disadvantage. We have not seriously believed as we should have. We have not seriously connected to either God or His people as we should have. Some use Bible class time not for a period of growing and learning, but to chit-chat with friends. Some have become the worst examples of what a Christian should be.

Worthless priests and worthless Christians do more harm to God’s people than all the world combined. We expect more from our own people. When one sees worthless behavior, they are likely to follow. Christianity becomes shallow, and like the hollow Easter bunny, there is nothing on the inside. Hypocrisy is the next step. Then follows indifference and apathy. In time, if the person has enough nerve, he just drops out. His faith has zero impact upon his decisions, his work and his family. Church is habit. Church is being with friends. Church is nothing about God to this worthless heart. He fools others and he deceives himself. Empty, shallow, and faithless—he is really worthless. He doesn’t help the kingdom grow, because his light has gone out a long time ago. He doesn’t help encourage others to do right, because he doesn’t do right himself. His kind confuses others. He is especially troublesome when he is the preacher or one of the elders. Long after he has moved on or died, people will continue to talk about him in a negative way. He leaves a trail of unpleasant memories. Worthless.

There are several shows on TV where folks will bring old junk to appraisers and find out that they are very valuable. Once in a while, on those shows, someone learns that his treasure is worthless. It has no value. Can’t sell it. No one would buy it. It is worth nothing.  Burned out light bulbs are like that. Broken scissors are like that. Lint from your dryer is like that. We don’t keep those things around. They don’t have other uses. They are not going to be bought on Ebay. They are worthless. Junk. Trash. No value. No use.

It is hard to think that a person could be like that. They are when they are not fulfilling the roles that God wants them to do. Parents can be worthless. Teachers can be worthless. Preachers and elders can be worthless. Eli’s sons, who were priests, were worthless. Worthless because they were not doing what they should. Worthless because they were doing the very opposite of what they should be doing. They were engaged in wrong and wouldn’t stop.

Some parents need parenting. Some teachers need to stop teaching and be taught. Some preachers need to sit on the other side of the pulpit. Some elders need to hang it up and have some one lead them.

Worthless. What a contrast to the parable of the talents where the master declared, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Worthless to well done. It’s a matter of choices. It’s a matter of taking your role seriously. It’s a matter of doing what God wants you to do.

Are you worthless or doing well? You steps, your heart, your words—they tell the story.

Roger

Jump Start # 1427

1 Samuel 2:12 “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did n0t know the Lord”

The other day I used a passage in a sermon about “worthless.” James referred to “worthless” religion. I got to thinking about that word. So, this week we are going on a journey looking at what God declares “worthless.” Most of us have another word for worthless, it’s junk. A parent may say to their teenager, “get rid of all this junk in your room.” They, by saying that, are not implying that the teenager toss the mattress out the window. That is not junk. The junk is all the papers, all the cups, all the trash and all the clutter that has filled every available space in the room. Junk.

It is interesting how many times in the Old Testament, the text refers to “worthless” people. In Deuteronomy, Judges, Joshua, Samuel—specific people are called by Heaven “worthless.” Now that doesn’t strike well with some of us. I can hear someone saying, “We shouldn’t call anyone worthless. They may have made bad choices but there is still good in them. Everyone has some value.” God considered some to be worthless. Those are God’s words. This is how God sees them. Some hired “worthless” men to stir up trouble or to try to change the public thought of a city. Worthless men could influence others to do wrong.

Our verse today describes Eli’s sons, priests, as worthless. Eli’s sons misused the sacrifices for their own advantage. They were immoral and they had closed their ears to the pleas of Eli, their father.

Another known “worthless” man is Nabal, the husband of Abigail. She even calls her husband, “Worthless” (1 Sam 25:25). Nabal’s flocks had been protected by David’s men. When they asked for some provisions, Nabal insulted them and David. Nabal’s own servant said of his master, “he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him.” David joined his troops and were ready to wipe Nabal off the face of the earth, until Abigail interceded and prevented bloodshed.  A worthless man. One wonders why Abigail married him unless it was arranged by parents.

Proverbs tells us that a worthless man speaks with a perverse mouth (6:12). Later in Proverbs, “A worthless man digs up evil while his words are like scorching fire” (16:27).

What we find is that God considers someone who is empty of godliness, who does evil and who is set on influencing others in a bad way as “worthless.” They are worse than doing nothing, they are doing wrong, and taking others with them. Their value is zero. God created them to glorify Him. God made them to help others. God made them, as He did all of us, to walk in His ways. They have refused. They are worthless.

One can’t help but wonder who God might consider as “worthless” today. It might shock us. The list might include some very famous, and extremely wealthy people. It might include some that we admire. We value them, but Heaven sees them as being worthless.

The opposite of worthless is valuable, value. And that is a good measurement for us to consider when we are making choices today. What value is there in a song, a movie, a friendship, a blog, a book? If those things encourage us to step away from God, if they take us to a place we do not belong, are they of any value? Are they not worthless? Worthless books—not based upon market value but spiritual quality. Worthless songs…worthless movies…worthless blogs…worthless friends—the influence is spiritually harmful and destructive. They leave us in a worse place. They put things in our minds that are hard to get out. They run our soul through the mud.

It’s hard for some to see that. It’s harder still for younger folks to see that. Parents need to help. But parents must be able to recognize the value or lack of value in these things. Someone goes to a movie and they report back with glowing reviews. It’s incredible. It’s great. You have to go see it. Then, almost apologizing, they admit, “there are just a few bad words.” How many are a few? A dozen? That’s not too bad, some think. Yet, if you had a person in your house and within two hours he cussed a dozen times, he’d most likely be led out of the house. If a salesman used that language, I’d walk away. But in a movie, oh, a movie, it’s different. And for young ears, those words get branded in their brains. Later on, among friends first, one of those words comes out. They never talked that way before. What happened? Worthless people, through a film, influenced them.

Now, the opposite of worthless people is valuable people. People of value. This has nothing to do with bank accounts, stocks or the size of their homes. It does, however, have everything to do with the size of their hearts. People of value, will value God’s things. They honor the Lord with their lips. They respect the ways of the Lord in worship. They treasure deep discussions about God and His ways. Good to the core are these folks. These are the ones that bring the food, come to the funeral home, sit with you in the waiting room, pray for you, be there for you and encourage you to do what is right. These are the ones who are quick to say, “Can we pray about this?” These are the ones who leave you feeling better and stronger spiritually. These are the ones that remind you of the goodness of God. You won’t find these people in the movies. Hollywood thinks that their lives are boring. You won’t hear people talking about these people at work, at least not in a positive way. But at the end of the day, it is the people of value that will be there for you. They will help you. They will make you do better.

Valuable people—have you surrounded yourself with them? Do you name them among your dearest friends? Do you listen to what they say? Are you such a person for others?

Eli’s sons were worthless. Nabal was worthless. A person doesn’t just get that way, nor are they born that way. They become worthless when they walk away from the Lord. Parenting, friends and influences are the factors that lead us to value or worthlessness. This is something parents today must think about. So your son can throw a football forty yards and hit a mark dead on, that’s impressive, but if he lives and dies with out the Lord, he has lost all value.

Worthless or valuable…it’s based upon our choices with the Lord.

Tomorrow, we will consider more of this journey.

Roger

Jump Start # 254

1 Samuel 2:12 “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the Lord.”

  Few words could cut the heart of a parent as much as those that are found in our verse today. Eli had served as a priest. He was old. Now, his two sons were priests. They were grown. They were adults. The expression “did not know the Lord” indicates a lack of reverence and respect for God. Intellectually, they knew there was a God. But they had no respect for what God had done for Israel and no respect for the Law of God.

  A few verses later we find: “Thus the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for the men despised the offering of the Lord” (17). Eli, their father heard all that his sons were doing, including having sexual relations with women. It seems that most everyone knew how vile and corrupt these sons were. Finally, God speaks. He tells Eli that he is removing them from the priesthood. They will both die and God will restore the sacred office of His priesthood.

  We find in this passage men who were serving God but who do not respect God. Unique? No. Have you ever taken a Bible class offered by a major university? Anymore, the teacher has little regard for inspiration and no respect for the authority of God. The class butchers what the Bible teaches.

  Being called “worthless” by God has to be the strongest of rebukes. Something that is worthless is worth nothing, it has no value. Today, we’d say, “It’s a piece of junk.” Strong, strong words for those who defile God’s worship and His ways.

  Many parents can relate to ole’ Eli here. You love the Lord and have tried to teach your children what is right. You have taken them to Bible classes, VBS, church services since they were young. All seems fine. They grow up, move out, marry, start a career, a family and somewhere along the way, toss God out of their life. They don’t think about it and they definitely don’t want to talk about it. They get weary of ole’ Mom and Dad preaching to them about getting back to church services. And Mom and Dad? Well, they are hurt. The kids never realize it. Mom and Dad feel like a failure. Sometimes it is hard for Mom and Dad to go to church services, when they see generations of families worshipping together. Not theirs. It seems the faith has stopped with Mom and Dad. Mom’s cry silently about this. Dad’s are clueless as to what to do.

  I have seen this picture over and over, in so  many different places. I have preached the funeral for the mom or the dad. Tons of family show up. Never seen them before, especially at church services. Nice people. They seem to love each other. They just have no place for God in their lives. I’ve talked to some of these grown children. They’ll admit that they ought to start coming but they never do. Promises are made but never kept. And life just goes on.

  My heart breaks for such parents. I know God’s does. Is there anything that can be done? First, pray. Prayer should be our first choice. Take it to the Lord in prayer. God is good. God is powerful. He can open closed doors. He can break through hard hearts. Next, bring it up, but be careful how you do it. Grown kids don’t like to be preached to, about anything. Talk to them. Generally, not always, something way down deep is a problem. Was the congregation too judgmental? Do they feel the Bible is too strict? Do they feel that they have done too many bad things? Maybe they just don’t understand or even know the Lord. They might talk. They may not know themselves why they gave up on the Lord. Habits are easy to get into. The habit of just ignoring God is an easy habit. Live for today. Live for Friday, payday, the weekend, fun and then just keep repeating that over and over again.

  It may be good to try to just get them back into the word of God. Getting them to start reading the Bible is a great step. Faith comes from the word of God. Well, how do I do that? Bring up last Sunday’s sermon…share what you have been reading…pass along one of these Jump Starts. Put your energy into finding what connects with your child. Don’t give up. I think Eli gave up. We can’t. We won’t.

  My heart breaks for such parents. God loves you. Keep trying.

Roger