If Eli Could Speak to Parents

[519 words] First Samuel tells us of the life of Eli. He was the high priest of Israel. He loved God and was very sensitive to His word. During his time, spiritual conditions were not good. People mocked God and lived immoral lives. Tragically, Eli’s sons became ungodly. They were disrespectful to God in their worship and immoral in their conduct (1 Samuel 2:12–25). For whatever reason, Eli failed to restrain and discipline his sons (1 Samuel 2:12–17, 29). Because of this lack of restraint, his children became careless and undisciplined, and they died as ungodly men. We live in a very busy world. Many parents are so busy that they also fail to restrain their children. Thus many children have grown up to disrespect God in their worship and in the way they live. If Eli were here today, in hindsight he might tell parents: Dedicate Yourself to God….