Our Greatest Success
Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:1-5
"1 As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel...3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. 4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 "Look," they told him, "you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have."
Observations:
Samuel was Israel's longest and most godly judge who led a spiritually corrupt nation in significant spiritual reform. His leadership restored true worship and motivated God's people to renounce their idolatry. However, although Samuel was a godly leader to the nation, he failed to lead his sons in the ways of God. We read in the previous chapter that Samuel's ministry to Israel required him to travel a lot (1 Samuel 7:16-17), meaning that he wasn't home very often. As a result, his family suffered. Not only did his absence it affect his sons, it was their moral shortcomings that prompted Israel to ask for a king in the first place, which substituted Israel's dependence on God for dependence on flawed human leadership that would later publically endorse the worship of other gods and lead them away from the one true God.
Application:
The most important job we have is to lead ourselves, but the second most important job is to lead our family in the ways of God by setting the example ourselves. Leading spiritually requires not only personal investment but also investing in others. Investments take time and effort, especially at home. It matters very little how godly we are if we're seldom home long enough for our kids to see it. While a godly example does not necessarily always guarantee godly children, it sure gives them a fighting chance to learn to develop godly character that they won't get anywhere else. Our greatest successes in life are not public. Our greatest success by God's standards are done in private among our children for whom we have been called to be the example of godliness.
Prayer:
Father, help us to become godly examples to our children. Change us and make us into the image of Christ so that we can represent You in our homes and influence them to follow You. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
"1 As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel...3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. 4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 "Look," they told him, "you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have."
Observations:
Samuel was Israel's longest and most godly judge who led a spiritually corrupt nation in significant spiritual reform. His leadership restored true worship and motivated God's people to renounce their idolatry. However, although Samuel was a godly leader to the nation, he failed to lead his sons in the ways of God. We read in the previous chapter that Samuel's ministry to Israel required him to travel a lot (1 Samuel 7:16-17), meaning that he wasn't home very often. As a result, his family suffered. Not only did his absence it affect his sons, it was their moral shortcomings that prompted Israel to ask for a king in the first place, which substituted Israel's dependence on God for dependence on flawed human leadership that would later publically endorse the worship of other gods and lead them away from the one true God.
Application:
The most important job we have is to lead ourselves, but the second most important job is to lead our family in the ways of God by setting the example ourselves. Leading spiritually requires not only personal investment but also investing in others. Investments take time and effort, especially at home. It matters very little how godly we are if we're seldom home long enough for our kids to see it. While a godly example does not necessarily always guarantee godly children, it sure gives them a fighting chance to learn to develop godly character that they won't get anywhere else. Our greatest successes in life are not public. Our greatest success by God's standards are done in private among our children for whom we have been called to be the example of godliness.
Prayer:
Father, help us to become godly examples to our children. Change us and make us into the image of Christ so that we can represent You in our homes and influence them to follow You. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
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