In today’s world it is so important that men who are fathers have a strong positive influence in their son’s lives. So many young men and boys today have the wrong definition what it means to be a man. Without the proper guidance and direction of godly fathers, many of our young men will be headed for trouble. So many of them think that looking hard and mean and disrespecting women defines masculinity. In the book of I Samuel, the high priest Eli was the father of two rebellious young men named Hophni and Phinehas. Although these two young men began serving as priest in the tabernacle, they had no regard for the Lord (I Sam 2:12). They stole what the people were offering to God as a sacrifice. In addition they seduced and had illicit sex with the women who served in the tabernacle. Due to Eli’s failure to be a firm father with his sons, God brought judgement upon Eli’s whole family. So it is very important that the men of God who are fathers take the responsibility of directing and influencing their sons.
Although I am not a father, I thank God for my father. His discipline and influence contributed to me being the man of God that I am. Men of God, children are a gift from God. Just as God held Eli accountable for his sons, He is still holding fathers accountable today. He honors us by giving us children and we must honor him by raising them up right.
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