Forget Me Not

By Dr. Roger Lovette

Unfortunately, there have been ministers in the recent and ancient past who have betrayed their calling and disappointed their followers. When Israel thought of failed ministers, they thought immediately of Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Both had showed great promise and their father, Eli, also a priest, was proud of them, but they went wrong. They used the Temple for their own advantage. They became drunks and adulterers. So disappointed with their actions, God turned from them and chose another prophet.

This story from 1 Samuel 2:22-35, depicts the repercussions of sin. When we throw a rock into the water it makes ripples. For whatever actions we take, there are consequences. We must be careful what we do because every action matters. Hophni and Phinehas did not realize the enormity of their wrong or the rippling consequences of their actions. God knew they had lost their effectiveness by their immoral ways.This is a good story for the church to ponder. If the people of God fail to be God’s people, the Lord will turn in other directions. It matters what we do. The ripples, for good or ill, go on and on. The church should continually ponder the story of Hophni and Phinehas.(Used from Reflections with permission from Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc.)

Dr. Roger Lovette is an MTM Trustee and pastor of the Baptist Church of the Covenant, Birmingham, Alabama