Honoring Your Sons

Why then do you kick [trample upon, treat with contempt] My sacrifice and My offering which I commanded, and honor your sons above Me by fattening yourselves upon the choicest part of every offering of My people Israel? 1 Samuel 2:29 (AMP)

Great care must be taken that we, as parents, do not begin to idolize our children and refuse to train or correct them. Our society has been immersed in a sea of unrestrained gluttony wherein it is believed that our children will be harmed if they can’t have what they want immediately. Great debt is incurred and legitimate bills are not paid to satiate the insatiable desire for the latest technological gadgets.

I ask, where is it written that a child will die if they do not have a cell phone with texting capabilities? Since when are children capable of making mature decisions about their faith, how much internet access they should be allowed, who they should hang out with and what they should watch or listen to?

The priest Eli knew what his sons were doing and ignored their folly. They took the best of the gifts brought to the Lord in order to satisfy their own lust. They became demanding, abusive and perverse, yet, he would not discipline them. As a result, he and his sons lost the privilege and honor of the priesthood. This brought a curse upon Eli and all of his descendants: “there shall not be an old man in thine house . . . all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age” (1 Sam. 2:31-33).

We are to “train up a child in the way he should go . . .” and love our children enough to discipline them: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him” (Pro. 13:24; 22:6)

Whether we have natural children or spiritual sons and daughters, we must guide and instruct them in the ways of righteousness. This includes teaching them how to obey authority, respect privileges and serve at their own expense.

Jesus, Himself, “. . . made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:7). Should we do less?