Lake Eufaula Christian Church
Being a father is one of the hardest jobs anyone can do, but it is also one of the most rewarding. This past Sunday we at LECC contemplated the significance of the word’s placement in an old Mirriam-Webster’s Dictionary—right before “fatigued” and right after “fat-headed.”
Asked how many dads related to all three, quite a few male hands went up, demonstrating how we have fun in church, even as we discuss the serious issue of being flawed and still finding favor with God.
We celebrated Father’s Day by examining an almost forgotten Old Testament father, Elkanah, who “went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord….” (1 Samual 1:21) This Biblical road trip sets an example for us by leading a family to worship, as fathers pleasing to God do on a regular basis.
“He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh…” (Samuel 1:2). When Elkanah sacrificed, he gave portions to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, “but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.” (1 Samuel 1:4-5) By supplying the children with individual portions for sacrifice to God, he showed he loved them as he trained his entire family to worship. However, he worried about Hannah who was barren and broken, and he “would say to her, ‘Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8) Hannah’s heart had ached for years, and on this day of despair on this road trip, she poured out her heart in the tabernacle with a prayer of utter selflessness. “O Lord of hosts, if you wilt indeed look on the affliction of they maidservant, and remember me, and not forget thy maidservant, but wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” (1 Samuel 1: 9-11) Back at their home at Ramah the next day, “Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’” (1 Samuel 1:19-20) Hannah did not go on the next road trip to Shiloh, and she told Elkanah “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.” (1 Samuel 1:22). Her husband listened and agreed she should do what seemed best to her. He was the type husband God expects all men to be.
We at LECC invite all non-churchgoers to lead themselves to 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula, for Sunday school at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and Wednesday all-age activities at 6:30 p.m. Parents, bring your children. Trust me, the best lesson you will ever teach them, is the life you live in service to God, leading your family to worship. As Pastor Andy Stanley so eloquently stated, “Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise.”
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little
