Word for the day “Leaders must evaluate their relationships”
I Samuel 3:11 (KJV) And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever. 15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17 And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18 And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.
WE ALL HAVE HAD TIMES OF BAD JUDGMENT THAT HAVE IMPACTED OUR LIVES.
Eli was one of the great men of faith and one of the great leaders in Israel's history. He served as a priest, prophet, Intercessor, and Israel's last judge. Although Eli was a great leader, he, at times lacked good judgment, which proved to be costly in critical areas of his life. The challenges he faced could have been avoided if he had just used better judgment.
We are faced with the same challenge in our lives today, how to navigate through life in our humanity. How many times have you made a decision and wish you would have used better judgment in your decision-making? Today’s message will speak to the need for the Lord’s influence in all our decisions and actions in life.
THE HANDLING OF FAMILY AND MATTERS OF THE HEART MUST BE DONE WITH GODLY INFLUENCE.
Eli was human, and he had areas of bad judgment in his life when it came to his children. Many parents have bad judgment when it comes to their children. Eli appointed his sons as judges in his place. The problem was that his sons were not the men of Godly character that he was. Scripture tells us they "were money focused over being God-focused, and, accepted bribes and perverted justice."
The people tried to tell Eli, but for whatever reason, he chose not to reevaluate his decision. Eli showed bad judgment when it came to his family (I Samuel 2:12-17). We should seek the counsel of God when it comes to making decisions for our families as well as ourselves. It is important to seek God’s guidance and direction.
EMBRACING GODLY PRINCIPLES IS ESSENTIAL TO MAKING SOUND JUDGMENTS.
We often develop excuses and use bad judgment regarding someone we love and want to protect. If Eli had heard the people's complaints with vigilance, he may have seen the truth before it was too late. He could then have corrected the problem and held his sons accountable for their misappropriations. If others around you are telling you things you don't want to hear, maybe you should stop and evaluate carefully what's being said. And make a proper assessment of what needs to be done to resolve the concern.
Making sound decisions and holding your loved ones accountable for their actions is the Godly thing to do. Oftentimes, we don't want to hurt or confront the ones we love, so we tend to avoid confrontation. By doing so, we are not only hurting them, but we are doing them a great injustice; by holding them accountable, we are helping them to become what is divinely destined for their lives potentially.
POINT TO PONDER
· Do you need to assess someone in your life: a friend, child, or maybe a family member?
· Perhaps it is time to take a look at those that are close to you?
· Is it time to confront the people concerns in your life?
· Are you delaying the need for correction in a relationship?
· Do you see how your decisions impact your destiny?
· Do you seek God when making decisions in your life?
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Kingdom Blessings,