Taking Too Much for Granted
1Sa 2:11-12 reads, “And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD”. Eli's boys were "sons of Belial," meaning sons of the Devil. They were not saved. Here they were, sons of the high priest, hanging around the tabernacle and actually ministering there!
There are many folks who send their children to a Christian school and feel very comfortable about it. I don't want you to misunderstand what I am saying; I thank G-d for Christian schools. The problem is that since these children are in a good place, the parents quit praying for them and even worse they quit teaching them G-d’s word. These kids may be in the most dangerous place imaginable.
Other parents feel secure in the fact that their children are in a fine church. My friend, that's where the Devil also goes—to those wonderful places! Remember, the Devil was in the Upper Room where Christ celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. That room was the most dangerous place in Jerusalem that night because the Devil was present (Matthew 26:23, 25).
We need to remember that the kids who go to a good church or a good Christian school still need prayers and a good devotional at home. They may be in a dangerous place. This little fellow Samuel was in a dangerous place, but his mother continued to pray for him, you may be sure of that. I challenge you as a parent and us as a congregation to continue the hard work of teaching the ways of G-d to our children, the society of tomorrow. We don’t need more temples filled with “Eli’s sons”. Let’s bring this new generation to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and into the kingdom of G-d. Let’s not take too much for granted.
I In His kingdom, your fellow servant,
Pastor Paul Santos