The SINS of the SONS of the SAINTS
by
DR. GODI SAMUEL Founder & Pastor Christian Worship Centre, Srikakulam
The SINS of the SONS of the SAINTS “In his old age, Samuel retired and appointed his sons as judges in his place but they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and were very corrupt in the administration of justice” “Finally the leaders of Israel met ....... Samuel. They told him that since his retirement things hadn’t been the same, for his sons were not good men” -I Sam8:1-6 (LB). These were the words of the elders of Israel about the sons of Samuel who was an upright and honest man. -1 Sam 12:3-14 Eli the prophet was blamed for not correcting or controlling his sons who were practicing evil (I Sam 2:17,22,23) and honoring themselves above God (I Sam 2:29) and for not restraining them from their evil (I Sam 3:13). Hence there is a responsibility on us as parents to try as much as possible to keep our children from known evil that will cause God’s anger to fall on them.
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SINS of the SONS 1. “They were not like their father” -1 Sam 8:3 (LB)
“His sons did not walk in his ways” -1 Sam 8:3 (NKJV)
Their father (Samuel) was just, honest and prayerful prophet, priest and judge. He challenged the people he was serving, to tell him whether he was wrong in any way or did harm to any one at anytime. I Sam 12:3-5 says - “Here I am, witness against me before the Lord and before his anointed; whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you” (NKJV). In a similar way Paul challenged his followers in Acts 20:33 - “I have coveted no ones silver or gold or apparel”
2. “They were greedy for money” -1 Sam 8:3 (IB) “He who is greedy of gain, troubles his own house. But he who hates bribes will live” -Prov. 15:27 (NKJV) 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012
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Ofcourse all of us are in need of money, but money is not everything we need. Money itself is not evil or sin. But the love, lust, greediness for money is certainly evil and causes peril to our souls. “Deceitfulness of money” is dangerous. Deceitfulness displayed in deriving money is dreadful and deadly act. Mt. 13:22 -”The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful”. (NKJV) I Tim 6:9 -”Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (NKJV) “Deceitfulness of money” means earning deceitfully or by wrong methods. “Better is little with fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Prov. 15:16). “Better is a little with righteousness than vast revenues without justice (Prov. 6:8). Are we faithful and honest in our financial dealings? Does our conscience approve of our action especially in money matters and also in many other matters? Oh! Ye sons of the Saints, are you trying to gain great riches while your father’s have gained good name? “A good name is to be chosen 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012
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rather than great riches” (Prov. 22:1). Are you striving for a good name?
3. “They accepted bribes” “took bribes”
-1 Sam 8:3 (LB)
-1 Sam 8:3 (NKJV)
Their father Samuel challenged the people whom he was serving - saying, “Here I am, witness against me before the Lord and before his anointed; whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any BRIBE with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you” -1 Sam 12:3 (NKJV). “NO” was the reply came at once (and beyond doubt). They said “You have NOT cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand”-ISam 12:4 (NKJV) Here we need to note the contrast. The sons did what his father dared not. The sons took bribes and perverted justice. The hands of the sons were full of crime while the hands of their father were free from guilt. People lost faith in sons and they rejected them to be judges over Israel.
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Good name is better (and to be chosen rather) than great riches. It is better to eat bread without butter rather than to eat bread with butter of evil and guilt. We all may try to give reasons for not being honest and just but no reason can justify or nullify the guilt of sons of saints and God. Error is error and it leads to terror and horror in life.
4. “They were corrupt in the administration of justice” -1 Sam 8:3 (IB) “took bribe and perverted justice”-1 Sam 8:3 (NKJV) To be a Judge over the people of God is a badge of great honor. Samuel was God made Judge, but his sons were man (father) made judges. Samuel was original and his sons were Xerox copies. Samuel was a man of vision and mission, but his sons have either of them. Due to his old age, Samuel transferred his authority to his sons. To be a judge means to do justice to the victims or oppressed. To be a judge is a privilege to serve the people exercising justice according to the law of God. But the sons of Samuel were misusing their position and power. They were perverting judgments by taking bribes. Their father Samuel asserted (questioned) “................ whom have I defrauded?.............. of whose hands 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012
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have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith?” (I Sam 12:3). Further it is said in Ex. 23:8 - “you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous” (NKJV). Prophet and Judge Samuel kept this law of God and left behind him good name and fame; whereas his sons left this law and defrauded people by taking bribe and perverting the right as wrong and evil as good. The administration of Samuel was alright; whereas the administration of his sons was corrupt. Can the corrupt cure the evil, and bring healing to the suffering nation? We are ashamed of seeing and knowing the corruption in the Government administration, but also in the Church administration. Even the freely given projects are sold in the market for huge amounts. Recently when I contacted a Christian agency to consider reopening the Children Home that was closed, I was told by middleman that they need to be bribed with amount worth of one-year maintenance of the project. If the Church and its leaders compete with the wicked in taking bribes and looting funds meant for helping the poor and preaching righteousness, what surprise is there when we hear such things of the ungodly and wicked. “His sons were NOT GOOD men”. They 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012
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were neither GODLY men nor even GOOD men. Sons should not try to encash the goodness of their fathers as surety for their deeds of vanity. Oh! Ye saints and sons of saints - what about our administration? Are we fair or failed in our administration? How much malice and mischief is there in our administration? Do our people have faith that we will do justice and will not defraud them in our administration?
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