The two of them stand in such stark contrast. He’s a man . . . she’s a woman. He was a priest, an ordained servant of the Most High God . . . she was just a common worshiper of the God of her fathers. He had grown kids who, though in service to the Lord, knew not the Lord . . . she had a son later in life who started serving before the Lord as child (2:11) . . . who grew up in the presence of the Lord (2:21) . . . who increased in favor with the Lord (2:26) . . . who faithfully walked with the Lord throughout his life.

Started into 1Samuel this morning . . . what a contrast between two parents . . . their devotion to God . . . and the impact on their children.

On one hand, you have the barren Hannah who vows to the Lord that, if God will allow her to bear a son, then she will give him over to the LORD all the days of her son’s life (1:11). On the other hand, you have Eli the priest who was more motivated about “fattening” himself with “the choicest parts of every offering of My people Israel” (2:29) than he was about disciplining his sons who fed their appetites, both for food and for women, without restraint or regard for the office they held as priests (2:12-17,22).

And so, it’s not just about the long term effects of good or bad parenting . . . it is about a principle which transcends rearing of children . . . it is all about honoring God.

. . . for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.   (1Samuel 2:30b ESV)

God’s indictment of Eli was that he honored his sons more than he honored God (2:29). Hannah, on the other, honored God with her first fruits . . . literally!!! . . . the first fruits of her womb . . . freely releasing her prayed for son to serve in the temple of God when he was only about 3 years old . . . “for I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD” (1:24, 28).

Hannah honored God . . . trusted Him with her sorrow . . . pledged not to hold on to His blessing too tightly . . . vowed to give to God freely and liberally that He might be glorified in the answering of her prayer. Eli, however, was double minded . . . he looked the other way when his sons stole from the peoples’ sacrifices to God because he liked the food and was willing to make himself fat with the best of the offerings . . . and when his sons’ stealing led to their sexual immorality and defiling of the tabernacle he did nothing more than try and “reason with the boys” rather than vigorously defend God’s glory.

Eli honored his sons more than he honored God. Hannah honored God more than her only son.

Its about the heart and its determination to honor . . . to glorify . . . God. Hannah desired to worship God . . . with all her heart . . . and with the fruit of her womb. Eli played fast and loose with the worship of God . . . ready to feed himself first rather than allowing God to receive the sacrifice He was due.

And while I might be comfortable this morning thinking, “I’m no Eli” . . . I’m giving serious consideration as to how able I am to say, “I’m like Hannah.”

Oh, to honor God the way Hannah did. To hold nothing back. To be satisfied only with knowing the God of blessing . . . more than holding on to the blessing itself. To so esteem the LORD that I’m truly willing to lay everything at his feet . . . to consecrate all things for his service . . . to desire nothing more than to glorify Him, regardless of personal cost. Kind of a deep gut check this morning . . .

My desire is to be more like Hannah . . . to be among “those who honor Me” . . .

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .