A Fathers Day message on what not to do as a father, per the example of Eli the Enabler. Fathers are the first line of exposure of God to his children, so they have a dramatic good or bad influence over their children's spiritual lives.
1 Samuel 1:1-2 Priests of the most high God are suppose to be communicators between God and men. But Eli and his sons were worthless men; the sons had no-one to guide them; they were free to do as they pleased, without discipline. They lead Israel to worship other gods. They extorted their people for their own benefit, treating the offerings to the Lord with contempt, exhibiting ungodliness; God was lost to them. Where was Eli the father and high priest? His children didn't listen to his voice. Is our own fatherly voice any better? Eli never disciplined his sons. It was not even important to Eli to correct their situation. He was an enabler, just like we do not want to face the punishment of his children. But God's holiness is forever and did not or can not allow such sin to continue. Eli's sons by the hand of God.
We must understand and accept our own God given office as fathers; standing between God the Father and our children. It's not about punishment, but about instilling discipline. Teaching them the difference between right from wrong. The roll of the father is to open their eyes to the consequences of their actions. The Lord disciplines those he loves; so should we. WE are to make sure your love for God is stronger than the love for your children. Not like Eli, who loved his children more than he loved God.
