Young Men in Ministry

For those of you who don’t know, my name is Josh and I’m one of the members of this church. And today, I get to serve you by preaching through this next section of 1 Samuel. If you haven’t been with us for the past few weeks, we’ve been tracking the story of a man named Elkanah who lived in Israel during the time of the judges when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

And yet, the camera zooms in on Elkanah’s house where someone is praying to the Lord! During a low time in Israel’s history, this event is a highlight. Elkanah’s barren wife, Hannah, prays to the Lord for a son and vows to give him back to the Lord should the Lord give her a son.

We know that the Lord did eventually answer her prayer—and as we saw last week in 2:1-10, she responded by praising the Lord. This is why we sing songs of praise to God in our Sunday gatherings here (whether it’s after a call to worship, prayer, or the sermon).

This is just what God’s people did in response to who He is and what He’s done, and this is exactly what Hannah did after God gave her a son. But that’s not all that she did—Hannah actually fulfilled her vow by sending off her three year old boy to ministry for the rest of his life:

“Then Elkanah [and all his house, including Hannah] went home to Ramah. And the boy [Samuel] ministered to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest” (2:11).

Then, in verse 12, the story shifts to a new man and a new household—much like a movie that employs cut scenes between two different events with simultaneous actions to show the viewer that these events are actually connected and that they’re happening at the same time.

Throughout the rest of chapter 2, we’re gonna see cut scenes that go back and forth between Elkanah’s house and Eli’s house.

From Elkanah’s son to Eli’s sons.

From a good example of a young man in ministry to bad examples of young men in ministry (this is the big picture in this section of 1 Samuel, which is why this sermon is titled as such).

And when the camera shifts to this new scene in verse 12, it’s as if the ominous music starts playing in the background to tell us that these are not the good guys. These are bad examples of young men in ministry.

Bad Examples: Hophni and Phinehas

“Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord” (2:12).

In chapter 1, we are actually told who Eli’s sons were: “Now [Elkanah] used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh [where the tabernacle was located], where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.”

So we can read 2:12 this way: “Now the sons of Eli [Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests of the Lord] were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.”

Say WHAT?

Priests of the Lord… who did not know the Lord?

Oh the irony… how does that make sense?

I. “Priests” by Title (2:12)

But let’s think about how people got to “know the Lord” back then in the Old Covenant. In Exodus 20 and onwards, the people of Israel were given God’s laws written on tablets of stone. Most people knew the Lord externally as opposed to internally—from a distance as opposed to a close relationship.

The knowledge of the Lord was stored up in a golden chest at the tabernacle, so they easily grew unfamiliar with God’s laws and regularly broke them—as opposed to storing up God’s word in their hearts so they don’t sin against Him (Ps. 119:11). And that famous psalm stands out because the internalization of God’s word was not usually the case for the people of Israel—even the leaders of Israel.

Remember that the time frame of 1 Samuel was during the time of the judges, when “there arose another generation after [Joshua] who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” (Jdg. 2:10). This included the current ministry leaders of Israel, like Hophni & Phinehas—who were “priests” by title only.

And this is why they’re worthless. In the original language, the word “worthless” literally means “of no use” or “good for nothing.” These priests were doing ministry at the tabernacle in Shiloh, but they were useless and good for nothing because they only gave lip service to the Lord.

They were “priests” of the Lord, but they were only priests by title since they weren’t actually of the Lord. And we see this on full display in verses 13-14 through their worthless deeds that demonstrate their greed for selfish gain:

II. Greedy for Selfish Gain (2:13-16a)

“The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant [or literally, the young man of the priest—suggesting this is either Hophni or Phinehas] would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there” (2:13-14).

From the outset, it sounds like this is simply describing the custom of the priests at that time. This is just what they did at Shiloh. And if you’ve read the Torah (first five books of the Bible), it makes sense that the priests were taking allotted portions of the sacrificial meat that’s being offered.

But the question remains: Is this priestly custom with the three-pronged fork in accordance with God’s laws? Is this how the priests were supposed to be taking their meat portions? After all, we’ve already seen how the people of Israel during this time were unfamiliar with God’s laws, and chapter 3 even points out that “the word of the Lord was rare in those days” (3:1).

While there’s merit to some Bible teachers concluding that this man-made custom was due to the illiterate generation, what’s not convincing about that is the fact that Hophni and Phinehas weren’t totally clueless, especially since this section is book-ended by verses 12 and 17 that emphasize how they disregarded the Lord and his offering.

Plus, they’re priests! What’s certain is that priests who served in the tabernacle would’ve had to have been familiar with the Law. If anything, priests would’ve been the masters of the Law back in the day (they’re what we would call Bible scholars today)—especially the laws on priestly rights and their meat portions!

And the Law prescribed specific parts of the meat to be set aside for the priests (Lev. 7:31-35; Deut. 18:3). So the problem was that the priests weren’t content with their allotted meat portions. Instead, they wanted all they could get. They changed it from a regular menu to an “all-you-can-stab buffet.”

“All that the fork brought up [Hophni or Phinehas] would take for himself” (2:14b). This kind of language implies that Hophni and Phinehas weren’t totally clueless as to what they were doing. In fact, they probably had a good idea where they were aiming that big fork, which was likely at the best and fattiest parts of the meat (which verses 15-16 will eventually confirm).

Not to mention that the size of the fork might be telling of their ulterior motives in taking as big of a portion they can get. It’s like that person at a potluck or gathering who sees their favourite dish and intentionally goes first to scoop the biggest share onto their plate with zero consideration for others outside of their own appetite.

But the problem here is that Hophni and Phinehas were using their priestly office to get the biggest piece of the pie. And they were doing so at the expense of the Israelite worshippers at the temple: “This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there” (2:14c).

And more often than not, Hophni and Phinehas weren’t content with the biggest portion of the meat—they wanted the whole portion (verse 15):

“Moreover [even this word here is suggestive of their continued misconduct], before the fat was burned, [Hophni or Phinehas] would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, ‘Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw’” (2:15).

Now we’ve got all sorts of red flags here. Not only do they demand the whole portion, but they also steal from the Lord‘s portion as well. Leviticus 3:16 clearly states that “all fat is the Lord’s” (simply because that was the choicest parts of an animal, and that was supposed to be given to the Lord first).

Then four chapters after that, God strictly commands the people of Israel to “eat no fat… for every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the Lord shall be cut off from his people” (Lev. 7:23, 25).

And this is the judgment that the Lord eventually brings on the house of Eli when he cuts them off from the Levitical priesthood: “Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house” (2:31).

Now, the good news is that there were actually some law-abiding Israelites who knew the sacrificial laws and advised the young priests to “burn the fat first, and then take as much as [they wished]” (2:16a). These Israelites tried to hold Hophni and Phinehas accountable to the Law for their sake.

It’s as if the Israelite man said to Hophni or Phinehas, “Look, young man. Aren’t you supposed burn the fat on the altar before taking your share? You know what the consequences are for doing otherwise.” Think of this like an older Christian man today pointing a younger Christian leader to the word of God—for the young man’s sake.

A godly young man would respond to this gentle reminder with thankful-ness and humility. But that’s not Hophni or Phinehas. They couldn’t see past their appetites. Not only are they greedy gluttons who used their title of “priest” as a means for selfish gain, but they’re also impatient bullies who abuse their positions of authority.

III. Abuses Authority (2:16b-17)

“And if [an Israelite held Hophni/Phinehas to account, they] would say, ‘No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force’” (2:16b).

So Hophni and Phinehas knew what they wanted, and they will do anything in their power (literally) to get what they wanted NOW. Beyond meat, as we’ll see next week, Hophni and Phinehas were also taking advantage of the women who helped at the tabernacle (2:22). How many prominent Christian leaders have fallen (even recently) by impulsively acting on their fleshly appetites?

And the remedy to fighting such sinful cravings is the Word of God. Good leaders who are challenged by others from the Word of God would respond in humility and submit to the authority of Scripture. But not Hophni and Phinehas. The only authority in their eyes was themselves.

Much like these young priests, abusive leaders do everything to put themselves in a spot where no one is able to challenge their authority. They are allergic to accountability. I’ve met a number of people who don’t believe in being held accountable because “it leads to spiritual abuse.”

Ironically, these kinds of people tend to be the guiltiest of any kind of abuse because they isolate themselves and break out against all sound judgment (Proverbs 18:1). And when these kinds of people assume leadership positions (even in churches or Christian organizations), they go “badge-heavy” when challenged and use their position of authority as leverage to keep feeding themselves—much like Hophni and Phinehas feeding their cravings for meat and women.

And if and when these people don’t get what they want, or things don’t go the way they planned, their temper goes through the roof. You wouldn’t believe what they’re capable of, and they will do everything in their power to have it NOW—even if that means abusing and threatening people.

Keep in mind that Hophni’s and Phinehas’ job required heavy, physical labour. Priests were basically professional butchers and Levites carried the tabernacle around, so these young men would’ve boasted physical strength—enough to be daunting for the average Israelite worshipper at the temple.

So combine physical strength with a position of authority (not to mention religious authority, especially in ancient Israel)… that’s a LOT of leverage. But there’s a stronger and higher authority looking down on these young men as they greatly disrespected Him and disregarded his laws:

“Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt” (2:17).

Verse 17 foreshadows the judgment that’s to come on these young men, which will be deathly (quite literally, as we’ll hear more about next week).

Because these were no little sins in the Lord’s eyes. Even with the title of “priest,” the Lord sees through superficial lip service and looks down on those who use their leadership positions to satisfy their greedy appetites and power cravings. These are bad examples of young men in ministry.

Meanwhile, the camera shifts back to Samuel in verses 18-21 where we see a good example of a young man in ministry. As Hophni’s and Phinehas’ sins continued to grow in the sight of the Lord, the boy Samuel continued to grow in the presence of the Lord. First, we see Samuel growing in ministry.

Good Example: Samuel

I. Growing in Ministry (2:18)

“Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod” (2:18).

A linen ephod was a common priestly garment that priests wore on top of their regular clothing (kind of like an apron). This was to show that Samuel was a priest-in-training or a priestly apprentice under Eli the high priest.

Yet, notice the progression from verse 11 to verse 18: “And the boy ministered to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest” (2:11). Then, in verse 18,

As Samuel grows through his ministry training under Eli, he also grows to recognize who his ministry is for. Unlike Hophni and Phinehas who were “priests” by title only and only paid lip service to the Lord, Samuel quietly grows in his ministry role as he grows in awareness of the Lord.

And this kind of growth takes years (literally)! This is what we see in verses 19-21 with Samuel growing in maturity.

II. Growing in Maturity (2:19-21)

“And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home. Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters” (2:20-21a).

While we are suddenly told details about Elkanah’s household, notice that the camera is actually still on Samuel since the details are told to hint at his growth in age.

Each year that his parents came up to sacrifice at Shiloh, his mother would make a little robe to give to him. Priests usually wore white robes under their ephods, so this is Hannah being a loving, dedicated mom who is supportive of Samuel being in ministry.

And before they went home each year, Samuel’s parents would be blessed by Eli due to Hannah’s vow—and the Lord does give Hannah five more children. There’s so much more to be said about God’s blessing on parents who fully support their children and don’t get in the way of them being in ministry or missions, as we touched on last week.

Not to mention that this is the last time we ever hear about Hannah or Elkanah. Their part in God’s big story is over—but they have a happy ending, unlike most characters in the Bible. Which means that they likely raised the rest of their children as they did Samuel—with open hands to God’s plans for His children. This is an encouragement for us—as one older man told me once—to be faithful and be forgotten.

But the main point here regarding the details on Samuel’s siblings is that this would’ve been at least a span of 7 years (likely more), so it’s safe to say that Samuel would’ve been a young teen at this point. This is confirmed in the next verse—which not only indicates his physical growth, but also his spiritual growth: “And the young man Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord” (2:21b).

To this point, not much has been said about Samuel except for the fact that he’s been growing in the Lord. Most of Samuel’s years have been devoted to doing the work of the Lord.

And we don’t need to spiritualize that—Samuel likely did a lot of physical work in the tabernacle like cleaning or carrying stuff around for Eli and even baking bread (1 Chr. 23:28-32). Think of support staff or maintenance/kitchen crews at summer camps—that kind of job is what a priest apprentice back then would’ve been required to do.

Samuel wasn’t even teaching the Law yet—in fact, he didn’t fully know or understand God’s word at this point (1 Sam. 3:7). He just had space to learn and grow as he served. And that’s all he focused on doing. As a young priest apprentice, Samuel would’ve spent a lot of time learning and growing as he was mentored by Eli—so it’s no surprise that Samuel is physically and spiritually mature beyond his age.

Often times, we tend to separate those two realities in our minds. But what we learn from Samuel is that physical growth goes hand in hand with spiritual growth. If we don’t have healthy sleep patterns, then we won’t have healthy thoughts in our minds throughout our days.

If we can’t say no to things in our fridge, then we won’t say no to things on our screens. If we don’t have routines or practice good habits, then we won’t be disciplined in reading our Bibles and praying everyday—and you won’t grow, grow, grow.

So we see that Samuel was clearly growing in both physical and spiritual maturity, his continued progression mentions that he was also growing in godly reputation. Look at our last verse this morning:

II. Growing in Godly Reputation (2:26)

“Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature [physically] and in favor with the Lord [spiritually] and also with man” (2:26).

“And also with man?” Hold on… doesn’t the Bible say that we aim to please God and not man? That’s very true. We don’t aim to please man (Gal. 1:10; Col. 3:23; 1 Thess. 2:4). But when we aim to please God as we grow in Christian maturity, we inevitably gain favor—not just with God, but also with godly people!

And either we gain the worthless reputation of Hophni and Phinehas, or we gain the godly reputation of Samuel. What we learn from this is that we should actually care about what some people think—those people being older, godly Christians who have proven track records in godliness.

While our individualistic, “mind your own business” culture fights against this, the Bible thinks that it is worth paying more attention to what our reputation is among other Christians.

As we’ll see next week, Hophni and Phinehas had no regard for their reputation because they had no regard for the Lord. Meanwhile, Samuel gained a good reputation with Eli and older Israelites around him—simply just by growing in the Lord. To be clear, this is not an encouragement to grow in your faith to please people; this is an encouragement to please God as you grow in godliness.

So here we have Samuel’s example as he grew in ministry, maturity and godly reputation. And this is a good example to follow. But there’s some more specific lessons for us to learn from our whole passage as we choose which examples to follow.

Examples to Follow

I. For Young People

Young people today, whether you’re under 12 and you can understand me, or a teenager, or a young adult—let me ask you a question: Are you more like Hophni and Phinehas, or are you more like Samuel?

And if you're thinking, “I’m probably more like Samuel.” My next question for you would be: “What have you been doing to grow recently?” Because if you’re not doing much to grow in godliness, then you’re actually more like the other guys. The reason why they did what they did is because they just went with the flow and did nothing to grow from their childish ways.

Boys will be boys. But this is far from a biblical idea. What’s more biblical is that boys will be worthless men if they don’t grow up (and that applies to girls too). If you procrastinate growing up, you might just end up like Hophni and Phinehas.

But there’s a better way. What we learn from Samuel is that it is not too early to grow up. It is possible to be mature beyond your years. So if you actually want to grow like Samuel, that process needs to starts today.

And that might mean re-evaluating your priorities, and what you spend your time doing. Samuel didn’t just sit around, staring into thin air and wasting daylight (modern day equivalent: Samuel wouldn’t spend hours watching videos on YouTube or scrolling through memes or reels on his smartphone mindlessly).

If this is an honest struggle for you, here’s one practical way you can pursue growth: Ask an older Christian you trust to put screen time limits on your smartphone. Unless you’re reading your Bible app for hours on end, unlimited screen time will naturally stunt your growth (both physically and spiritually).

Samuel spent his days being taught, not by pop culture, but by older, godly people. He made the best use of time by learning good things from these people—things that lasted more than a few seconds or minutes. So who do you spend your time with? With godly people, or with worthless people?

And keep in mind—Hophni and Phinehas were worthless people who masqueraded themselves as God’s people (i.e. “Christians”), so be careful even in your “Christian” friend circles. Ironically, I (Josh) partook in more slanderous and crude behaviour with my Bible college friends than my atheist friends from PA (believe it or not). I regret not spending more time with older Christians instead.

So whether you’re a teenager or a college student, consider how you can join the life of your church more often so you can rub shoulders with older Christians more often. If you’re not meeting with an older Christian regularly, consider doing that (and make the best use of time when you do that—glean as much wisdom from them as possible, like Samuel did with Eli).

Because don’t you want to be described like Samuel was? Don’t you want people to speak of you in such high esteem at such a young age? If I asked an older Christian you trusted to evaluate your maturity (both physically and spiritually), would they describe you more like Hophni and Phinehas? Or would they describe you more like Samuel?

Young person: Don’t waste your youth. Follow Samuel’s example—it is not too early to grow up.

II. For Young Men

But our passage today also has specific implications for young men, especially those who aspire to the office of pastor/elder or any position of Christian leadership in general. Whether you’re an NBC student or an elder apprentice or a younger man in general, allow me to ask you the same question: Are you more like Hophni and Phinehas? Or more like Samuel?

Unfortunately, many young men today are being rushed into leadership positions in churches and even being appointed as “pastors”—simply because they are good with people (especially with youth), good at public speaking, and hold a Bible college degree. While those things might be helpful, the biblical qualifications for pastors/elders are mainly concerned with character rather than gifts/abilities (and even formal biblical training).

And sadly, most job descriptions don’t even have the passages on biblical qualifications for elders listed as requirements. Search committees rarely do their homework by asking young men (or their references) about their track record with financial integrity, gentleness and humility, or sexual purity (to name a few). I fill out a LOT of references for young people, and only two organizations have called me this year (and one of them was not a Christian organization).

And what does this cultural approach (that prizes competence over character) result in? Hophnis and Phinehas’ who are “pastors” by title but predators in reality due to their browser history. Skilled public speakers who love preaching but not people. Young men who arrogantly resist godly counsel or accountability to satisfy their sinful cravings at the expense of the flock.

Young man, why do you aspire to the office of pastor/elder or Christian leadership? Be honest with yourself: Is your goal to feed the flock? Or yourself?

Maybe your appetite for selfish gain isn’t meat or women, but could it be using ministry to satisfy your craving for status or being in a position of authority? Maybe the selfish craving to have an audience for publicly expressing your individualism or theological intellect?

Whatever it is, it might be helpful to talk it through with some older Christians (maybe even pastors/elders who know you well enough and would tell you the truth) and ask them if they think you’re ready to be in a position of Christian leadership—just to make sure you don’t go down the Hophni or Phinehas track.

In fact, one of our elders here asked me that question 5 years ago just before I finished my pastoral internship here: “Josh, do you think you’re ready to be a pastor?” And after a few seconds, I replied: “Yep. I think so!” (And if I could go back in time, I would slap my arrogant, youthful self in the face.)

So as a young man who was (and still am) aspiring to be a biblically qualified pastor/elder, I just want to go on record and say thank you to this church for giving me the Samuel experience rather than the Hophni or Phinehas experience.

Thank you for calling me a youth “director” rather than a youth “pastor”—that saved me from much youthful arrogance and the Pharisaic love for honourable “titles” (Matt. 23:6-12). Thank you to many of you (even in this room today) who came alongside me and helped me grow into the man that God has made me today—simply by not looking down on me and giving me the time and space to grow in faith and godliness as an elder-like man.

And I know I’m also speaking on behalf of a number of young men in this room who have also gotten (and like myself, are still getting) the Samuel experience to this day.

So, young men who aspire to pastoral ministry or Christian leadership—you desire a nobler task (1 Tim. 3:1). But if you want the Samuel experience (because the Hophni and Phinehas will be your default if you don’t do anything about it), let me offer some words of caution:

• Be careful not to rush yourself into positions of Christian leadership. Don’t feel like you need to be a pastor or leader NOW because I want it NOW. Learn from Samuel, and learn like Samuel. Even Jesus spent most of his years on earth preparing for ministry and only started at 30 years old (like most priests back then).
• If you see ministry job descriptions that don’t include biblical qualifications for pastors/elders or pre-requisites on Christian character, run away. And don’t look back or search up that job description again. Find another church who stands on the authority of the Bible.
• Be careful not to be rushed into positions of Christian leadership. So if you do get ministry job offers, don't give in to desperate churches or search committees who just want to fill positions.
  
• But if a church does put you in a pastoral position right away, have the courage and humility to ask your leaders for time to grow before stepping into the office of “pastor.” While you can serve in the role, you need to be qualified before you are called “pastor.”
• In the Bible, “pastor” is the same as “elder”—so you’re not ready to be called a “pastor” until you meet the biblical qualifications to be an elder. Just because a church hires you to lead youth games or music doesn’t make you a “pastor.”
• And if you feel the need to be called a “pastor,” heed Jesus’ rebuke against the Pharisees who loved to be called “rabbi.” Stay away.
• If you ever want to join a church (only as a pastor or leader and nothing else), then you might just be looking for the church to serve you rather than the other way around. Loving theology or ministry doesn’t necessarily equate to loving God and his people.

  
  
  

• Instead, spend your time wisely like Samuel and focus on growing. You won’t be an elder tomorrow if you’re not elder-like today.

III. For All People

But maybe you’re not a young man aspiring to leadership or don’t consider yourself a young person. Whether you’re an older man or woman, you have a role in regard to the growth of younger people around you. How will they grow unless you give them time and a safe space to grow?

The apostle Paul tells young Timothy not to let anyone look down on him (1 Tim. 4:12)—because older people naturally look down on younger people. But what would it do for a younger person who’s trying to set a godly example, if you as an older person walked alongside them instead of dismissing them?

Are you seeking to be an Eli to the Samuels around you? Are you taking initiative to come alongside a younger person (or a younger man aspiring to leadership) and walking with them as they grow in godliness? For our church to have healthy leaders in the future, you need to start training them in the Word today.

And this practice will come in handy for when your current leaders start to waver. Christian today, are you familiar enough with God’s Word to know if or when your leaders go off-track? And not just to “call them out” and shake your head at them when they fall—but helping them to get back on track, like that Israelite man tried to do with Hophni and Phinehas?

And don’t wait until they’re off-track—but help them to stay on track! As a church, we can’t just assume that our leaders will be good just because they got voted in and have the title. As one of our elders here told me, “Elders are only qualified so long as they work to maintain their qualifications.”

To do that, leaders need the help of the body. Whether it takes the form of prayer, encouragement, or maybe even coming alongside them in the journey to stay qualified for leadership? And women, don’t count yourselves out—Priscilla (with her husband) took Apollos aside privately and mentored him.

And in case we’re tempted to think that this sermon is just for “pastors” and Christian leaders, we need to pause and remember that the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 (outside of the ability to teach and the gender restriction) are almost synonymous with the godly qualities in 2 Peter 1 or the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5—all of which apply to every Christian.

If anything, the qualifications for Christian leaders should be the standard that people reach for in general. More often than not, people who feel inadequate about meeting such high standards really comes from the stark realization of how long they’ve been content with where they’re at in their faith, or how much they’ve procrastinated spiritual growth.

In fact, many Christians who tend to be nervous about stepping into leadership positions are often times just nervous about going public and having other Christians evaluating their character. But based on Samuel’s example—gaining favor with God and with godly Christians are more intertwined than we’d like to think.

And guess who else set a public example for God and for people?! Samuel merely points to a better example of a boy who would grow up in such a way that even Samuel couldn’t. In fact, verse 26 is actually quoted almost word for word in Luke 2:52 to describe the growth of the 12 year old Jesus.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Lk. 2:52).

Like Samuel, not much more was said about Jesus as a boy—but he was just focused on growing in godliness that even the teachers of the Law were amazed at his maturity for his young age.

Yet, this is a boy who would grow up to be a man of sorrows, “leaving [us] an example, so that [we] might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:21).

It’s good news for us today that Jesus grew up like us and was tempted like us—yet, with a perfect and sinless track record, so that he would take our shortcomings and credit us with his perfect righteousness at the cross. The good news is that we don’t have to feel inadequate for where we’re at, because Jesus invites us imperfect humans to keep growing as we follow his example.

Brothers and sisters, let us not be content and stay where we’re at. Let’s ask God who gives the growth to help us grow in godliness like Samuel and Jesus. As we’ll sing in response today…