What warning does Eli's life convey to the Church?
1 Samuel Book
Bible study 5
What warning does Eli's life convey to the Church?
Here is a trustworthy saying: whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
(1 Timothy 3:1)
God has gifted the church with five types of ministry.
The scriptures say that it is good if one of these wants to be a shepherd or overseer of the church. God has not given such excellence to any other ministry among the five ministries.
Such a special and heavy ministry is the ministry of being a church leader. Leadership is a gift from God.
If you can't handle it properly or if you misuse that gift given by God potential losses, losses, and penalties are high.
If we take a closer look at Eli's life, we can see the greatest warning that church leaders can learn.
Look at what God said about Eli in the scriptures.
Why do youf scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honour your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?”
(1 Samuel 2:29)
Although he knew that his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves, I declared to him that I would execute judgment on his family that
(1 Samuel 3:13)
Therefore I have made a decree concerning Eli's family that the iniquity of Eli's family shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.
(1 Samuel 3:14)
I don't see in the scriptures that God spoke to any high priest with such anger.
Likewise, God's punishment for Eli and Eli's family should also be seen.
Then you will see misery in my abode. Even if Israel is favored, there will never be an old man in your family.
(1 Samuel 2:32)
And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you – they will both die on the same day.
(1 Samuel 2:34)
Not only that, God warns that his descendants will also beg for bread and money.
There is only one main reason why Eli received such a warning and punishment.
He did not condemn his children for interfering in his ministry and dishonoring God's name.
They made the tabernacle a disgrace, making it a place where their desires are fulfilled.
Ministerial immorality comes first here only in the scriptures. 2:22
God never allows himself to be mocked.
Similarly, in the early days of the church in the New Testament, we can see a direct encounter with God unfolding.
Even though it is a period of grace, we should take the punishment meted out to Ananias Sapphira as a warning. Peter accuses them of lying to God and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3
We should consider Paul's words about them when overseers are insubordinate (Titus 1:9-12 and
1 Timothy 3:4,5)
Therefore, church leaders should be careful in promoting their children in their ministries.
God's will should be done in it. The scriptures make it clear that prioritizing one's heirs to save possessions for temporal worldly benefits will surely incur the Lord's wrath. God was patient with Eli.
(3:21, and 4:1)
God withheld the punishment of Eli until God revealed it in His Word to Samuel.
Christian leaders should not count that patience to their advantage. It is more dangerous to reject God's rule and maintain their rule in God-given ministries than any other personal sin.
Ezekiel Shanmugavel