Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect the Lord or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. (1 Samuel 2:12-13)
You just took your last breath on earth and your first breath in heaven. You’re standing before the God of the universe, and you’re asked to give an account for everything that he has given you. Your entire life replays before you—your spouse, your children, your first job and your last job, your first house and your second house, your education, your investments, your interests, your skills, and your time. Every opportunity that you had to help someone that you passed up. All the ambition and good decisions that made your life comfortable and relatively successful. It all flashes before you. Then a voice asks you this question, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. Now how do you give an account for the way you have used these gifts?” (James 1:17)
Yes, this is a familiar scene we’ve all heard before. But Paul does tell us that one day “we will all stand before the judgment seat of God…and give an account” (Rom. 14:10-12).
In today’s chapter, this judgment day was coming up for Eli’s two priestly sons. These two cheated the people by taking more of the sacrificed meats than they were required to. They abused the power and gifts that had been given to them. Meanwhile, we see that God was raising up another leader, who wouldn’t misuse the gifts given to him. Samuel was growing “in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people” (2:26).
Every good and perfect gift comes from God. God is looking for people who will not only spend these gifts for themselves, but for him (2 Chr. 16:9). This passage should get us thinking about how we’re using the various roles and gifts that God has given us now. You might be a husband, wife, parent, student, supervisor, employee, colleague, neighbor, or a church member. How are you using this role that God has given you? Many use their roles to cause others to make their life as convenient as possible. Maybe in this season, God has given you more than enough time, how are you utilizing it? Maybe God has given you the ambition and resources to launch a new business, but what’s your end goal? To become wealthy and live as comfortably as possible?
The Christian shares with others the things God has shared with him. So let’s be known for our generosity, because God is phenomenally generous to us every day (2 Cor. 8:9).