Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

Poor Parenting
Read 1 Samuel 2: 12-36

Eli's sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD. 1 Samuel 2: 12

Sadly, some leaders of today, even those holding positions in church, are exemplary in management skills but really lacking in those of fatherly discipline in their own homes. As a result, in affluent societies like Singapore we find many indulgent parents with spoilt self-centred little children. An Asian pastor recently warned that if we do not discipline our children when they are young, they will ‘haunt us’ when they become teens.

Eli, though a well-respected priest, was one such father with poor parenting skills. And because of that, God was totally disappointed with him (v 29), although he was of distinguished heritage, being the son of Ithamar, the youngest son of Aaron, the brother of Moses himself. Eli’s self-indulgent sons Hophni and Phinehas continued to 'haunt' their father way beyond their teens. Probably they were both married, or at least Phinehas was (4:19), but they slept with other women (v 22). Most of all, in office as priests they greedily snatched the best part of the sacrifices of the people (v 15). Because of their sins, Eli’s descendants lost their priesthood.

Through a prophet, God confronted Eli about ‘honouring’ his sons above his God (v 29). God gave a stern warning that 'those who honor me I will honor but those who despise me I will disdain'. Eli’s sons may be contemptible but it was Eli their father whom God blamed for not being able to control them (3:13). Perhaps the reason why many young people are running ‘wild’ today, especially in the West but increasingly in Asia, is that they have foolish fathers.

In trying so hard to provide materially for their children to make them better off, parents fail to make them better.

Aren’t children a blessing and on loan from God? How is it that these temporary gifts are oftentimes more ‘precious’ than the Giver? Too precious even to discipline?