“Building Quality Relationships: With Future Leaders”
1 Sam. 1:1-2:11
Pastor Leslie Weatherhead once said, “I meet a great many people who wish they had more influence in the world and think they don’t count for much. But if from your home there comes, because of what you have been and done, a good man or a good woman you will have done more for your nation, more for the true progress of mankind and more for God than many of those whose names are written on the scrolls of fame.”
He could well have been speaking to, and about, Hannah. Her son Samuel was one of the greatest, godliest leaders in the Bible. Understanding how his life developed is crucial to our understanding of how to grow and build relationships with future leaders. To put it in its simplest terms, Samuel’s life was a dedicated life; it was dedicated on at least three different fronts.
First, SAMUEL’S LIFE WAS DEDICATED PRE-BIRTH. His development as a leader started before he was born. Let’s set the stage in the book of Samuel. Every year the Israelites made a pilgrimage to Shiloh to make their sacrifices, atone for their sins, and worship God. Many of them traveled many miles through desert land and some, with no animals to ride, even walked the whole way. It was an event they dared not miss. The book of Samuel opens at such a time. And at Shiloh we meet a man named Elkanah and his family. And, to us at least, it’s an unusual family. He had two wives - the explanation for which would take another sermon. The focus here is on the fact that one wife, Peninnah, had born him many sons and daughters; his other wife, Hannah, was barren – she had been unable to bear children. So this time of year was always difficult for her as the meat from the sacrifices was cooked and handed out to the women in amounts based upon the number of children they had. Hannah’s one portion for herself was the painful reminder of her barrenness. And since a woman’s status was determined by and based on how much fruit came from her womb, it all reminded Hannah of her low standing among the people. Finally, Hannah’s misery and disappointment overwhelmed her. And that’s when God was ready to go to work. A family was ready.
And GOD MOST ALWAYS BEGINS WITH A FAMILY. Think about Abraham. He was chosen to be a blessing to the whole earth, but his vocation was to begin to take effect through his family. He was to teach his own household, who again would hand down the truth to their households. His being a blessing to the world depended on his being a blessing to his own home.
As a seminary student I preached one Sunday morning at a church on the east side of the state. Some months later the Dean of the seminary pulled me aside and asked if I had preached at that church at some time in the not too distant past. As I responded that I had I asked why he wanted to know. He lifted up a copy of the Temple Time (now Words of Hope) daily devotional and pointed to an article written by a member of that congregation. She made reference to a seminary student who had preached in her church and she commented that when she heard him she knew his parents had laid a great foundation; she said the job the student had done spoke as much about his parents as it did him. And she was right. I was blessed and prepared by being in a Christ-centered home. I was prepared for the ministry long before seminary – it began in my family. That’s where God often begins. That’s why our Baptismal Liturgy asks parents to train their children in Christ’s way by their example. That’s where God begins.
God begins in a family and also RESPONDS TO PRAYER. (10) “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord…remember me…and give (me) a son…” (19) “…and the Lord remembered her.” Hannah poured out her heart to God; she prayed from the depths of her soul – so much so that the priest thought she was drunk! We can almost hear her. “God, you blessed Sarah and Rebekah and Rachel with sons. You blessed Samson’s mother. God, bless me with a son.” It reminds me of George McCluskey. George and his wife started a family, and he decided to invest one hour a day in prayer for his children because he wanted them to follow Christ. After a time, he expanded his prayers to include his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Every day between 11 AM and noon, he prayed for the next three generations. As the years went by, his two daughters committed their lives to Christ and married men who went into full-time ministry. The two couples produced four girls and one boy. Each of the girls married a minister, and the boy became a pastor. The first two children born to this generation were both boys. Upon graduation from high school, the two cousins chose the same college and became roommates. During their sophomore year, one boy decided to go into the ministry. The other didn’t. He chose instead to pursue his interest in psychology. He earned his doctorate and eventually wrote books that became best sellers. He started a radio program that was heard on more than a thousand stations each day. The man’s name was James Dobson. (1) All this, through the prayers of one man: George McCluskey. What if George McCluskey had not prayed? Pray for your children and grandchildren. God responds to prayer.
I once preached at the Ordination service of a dear friend. In the sermon I mentioned that before he was in the womb God had set him apart for ministry – even if no one else knew it at the time. After the service his mother confided in me that before he was ever born she was praying to God that he would become a minister. God responds to prayer.
Consider again the Baptismal Vows: “Do you promise to pray for your children, and to teach them to pray?” During the height of the school prayer debate, a senator was asked to address a local church’s annual men’s dinner. About 450 men were present. During the meal, school prayer became a very emotional issue. The senator began his talk by asking two questions/ “First, how many of you would like to see prayer restored to the public schools?” As far as he could tell, every hand was raised, with many adding, “Amen!” The second question: “How many of you pray with your children every morning at home?” The silence was embarrassing. Finally, a few raised their hands, although it seemed reluctantly. These men were far more ready to demand of the church and Congress that which they were not doing in their own homes. So I ask you this morning, DO YOU PRAY WITH DRUNKEN PASSION FOR YOUR CHILDREN? It’s the only way to raise up leaders for tomorrow. Think about it. Is there anything more important for our children than salvation through Jesus Christ? Is there anything more necessary than for the Holy Spirit to fill them and flow through them, and to develop Christ-likeness within them? The Holy Spirit fills our children in response to our fervent prayers. Jesus said it vividly (Luke 11:11-13): “"You fathers--if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."” Blanket your children in prayer. Claim for them the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit. God responds to prayer.
Samuel was dedicated not only pre-birth but also POST-BIRTH. In her passionate prayer to God, Hannah had made a vow. “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow, saying, ‘O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life…” After Samuel was born, she FULFILLED HER VOW. (1:27-28) “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” How could God not use Samuel?
How often do you think about the vows you made before God? “Do you promise to instruct your child in the truth of God’s Word, in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ; to pray for him, and teach him to pray; and to train him in Christ’s way by your example, through worship, and in the nurture of the church?” “God being my helper, I do.” How have you fared? In addition to praying, are you teaching? Are you modeling? Are you bringing your children to worship at every opportunity? Are you making sure they are involved in the educational ministries and total life of the church? Do they see you valuing the nurture and life of the church? Do they sense its priority and importance for you? Listen to the preacher in Ecclesiastes (5:4-7): “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.”
To fulfill her vow Hannah let go and RELEASED SAMUEL TO GOD. It was a supreme act of self-denial. Only when we realize how deeply she longed for a child can we appreciate the depth of her self-sacrifice. She literally gave Samuel back to God by turning him over to the Priest to be raised and trained in the temple. When Bishop Edwin Hughes eldest son and namesake was ordained as a minister, his mother delivered the charge. Her eloquent words could well have been Hannah’s. “We gave you to God. We have never taken our gift away from him… We have not felt that in giving you to God we have taken you away from ourselves. Rather have we felt that since the day when you concluded to preach the…you have been ours more than ever – because our parenthood is itself from God, with whom we reverently and gladly share his own gift…It does not seem long since that morning when God placed you in my arms. I had no feeling then that you left his arms when you came to mine. Again tonight, as I have so often done, I place you in the arms of God. I have no feeling now that you have left my arms when I place you in his. You are my son the more because you are his son the more. I gladly give you to Christ – utterly and forever. You are to be the Savior’s minister. He will keep you, guide you, comfort you, strengthen you. If by his providence I go to the heavenly Home before you do, I shall wait for your coming in the proud confidence that, even as you once came back to me with the decoration of honor on the worn coat of a young soldier, so then you will come to me with the badge of the Lord Jesus upon your heart, and may its inscription be, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’” (2) Are you willing to truly release your children to God? What would that look like for you?
Samuel was dedicated pre-birth, post-birth, and through PROVIDENTIAL BIRTH. God was actively involved in Samuel’s life all along the way. It’s another illustration of human need meeting divine power. Hannah, as we’ve seen, needed a son – and God needed a leader. God put the two together. Notice God’s CONCRETE PARTICIPATION. (1:19-20) “Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”” God remembered and honored her prayer and faith. (2:18-21, 35) “Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the LORD.” Then they would go home. And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD… I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always.” God promoted Samuel into higher levels of service even as He continued to bless Elkanah and Hannah.
And God had a CONTINUING PARTICIPATION in Samuel’s life. (3:19-4:1) “The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.” God used and blessed Samuel mightily. He became a powerful, respected leader, a prophet, a priest, who eventually had the honor of anointing Saul as king. Remember how the Heidelberg Catechism describes providence? It is “The almighty and ever-present power of God whereby he still upholds, as it were by his own hand, heaven and earth together with all creatures, and rules in such a way that leaves and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and unfruitful years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, and everything else, come to us not by chance but by his fatherly hand.” God is serious about the needs of His people and is always at work. He awaits our prayers, and anticipates and honors our vows. Today’s children and youth will be tomorrow’s leaders. But they are being dedicated and developed today. Are our children among them? It’s up to us. As the great Biblical expositor William Barclay wrote, “Of all God’s gifts there is none for which we shall be so answerable as the gift of our children.” What are you doing with your gift?
(1) Leadership Magazine, Fall 1995
(2) From Theology News and Notes, Oct. 1988, Fuller Theological Seminary, quoting Richard C. Halverson, Executive Guide to Ethical Decision-Making, published by Executive Leadership Foundation, Inc.
(3) I Was made A Minister, Abingdon-Cokesbury, 1943
