The prophet Samuel once told the people of Israel about his fear of failing to teach the right way to God's people:
1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
The fear that Samuel had must also be our fear.
We must follow Samuel's example and ensure that we teach the good and the right way and practice what we say.
God condemned, from the beginning, the practice of sin and disobedience, but still, there are people, who supposedly gave their lives to Jesus, and continue to accept the practice of sin and disobedience in their midst and in their homes.
Then, the fruits condemned by God, which are the works of the flesh, become evident and sometimes apparent:
Galatians 5:
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
And these same christian have neglected the fruits of the Spirit, which are:
Galatians 5:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Passivity in relation to these attitudes (practicing works of the flesh and neglecting the action of the Spirit) has generated people who are NOT firm in their faith, who are NOT faithful to God and who have their homes destroyed, where there is contention, insults and there is no peace, much less communion with God.
Christian parents are failing to reprimand their children when they follow the wrong way and have accepted the practice of sin and vices in their own homes, making their homes a place where God cannot bless.
So, the children of these people are disobedient, they are easily influenced by those around them, going to “clubs”, drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking and often having sexual orgies.
They don't go to church, they don't read the Bible, they don't pray, simply because their parents are not fulfilling or have not fulfilled a basic commandment:
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
And Train up the children in the way they should go it means that you should go that way as well.
There is no point in teaching something to those around you, if those around you do not observe that what you teach is true in their own lives.
Samuel was concerned about this and asked the people:
1 Samuel 12:3 Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.
And the people's answer was:
1 Samuel 12:4 They said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.
One day we will all be held accountable by God for what He has placed in our hands, giving us spiritual authority over: Children, relatives, neighbors, people, who should be edified by our attitudes and our words.
In the parable of the talents taught by Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30, we find the message that can help you discern how God will act in his judgment in this situation:
Matthew 25:23 His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
Matthew 25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
IN WHICH OF THE TWO VERSES ABOVE WILL YOUR REWARD BE GIVEN BY GOD?
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Pastor Val Martins
