Ep. 90: Dangers of Honoring Anyone More Than God

In Podcast Episode 90, “Dangers of Honoring Anyone More Than God,” Kim discusses the temptation each of us faces to honor anyone, including ourselves, more than we honor God. Eli had not set a godly example for his sons in how he handled his duties as priest, but also in how he honored them above God.

 

The primary scripture text for this episode is 1 Samuel 2:22-36 with focal verse 29:

 

22 Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 23 Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? 24 You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. 25 If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.

 

26 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.

 

27 One day a man of God came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord: “I revealed myself to your ancestors when they were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. 28 I chose your ancestor Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests. 29 So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!

 

30 “Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me. 31 The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age. 32 You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days. 33 The few not cut off from serving at my altar will survive, but only so their eyes can go blind and their hearts break, and their children will die a violent death. 34 And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!

35 “Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever. 36 Then all of your surviving family will bow before him, begging for money and food. ‘Please,’ they will say, ‘give us jobs among the priests so we will have enough to eat.’”

 

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:

 

25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-27)

 

37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. (Matthew 10:37-39)

 

34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” (Luke 14:34)

 

BIG NEWS—COMING SOON: “A Country Girl in a City World—Loving Jesus” will be renamed as “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus.” You will get the same great content, but a new look and a new website. The website will contain podcast information, Bible study blog posts and more.

 

RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Samuel PODCASTS:

• “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume”
• “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God’s Kingdom Agenda”
• “Life Application Study Bible”
• “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll

"Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:

 

Our NEW Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.

Online Bible Study Courses:

 

Would you like to take a deeper dive into the book of Joshua and learn more about the Israelite story, join Kim as she teaches “Finding Courage for Life’s Battles: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua.”

 

To take her FREE 3-Day Online Bible Study entitled “Let  God Transform U through His Word: Why Is Personal Bible Study So Important to Your Christian Life?”.

 

Check out Kim's website at https://gettinghealthyall4hisglory.com for blog posts and her PDF Printable collection.

 

Remember, “It’s Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”

 

If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

 

1-800-273-8255

 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

 

Reference:

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.