Contemptible Offering

1 Samuel 2:17
This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.

Eli's sons treated the Lord's offering very lightly.  They were comfortable in just doing it for the sake of religious rites.  Though they were rebuked, they did not listened, hence a curse has fallen on their family line.  

Lessons:
.. Continuously assess your attitude towards the offering you give to the Lord
.. Never be comfortable in our service to the Lord - always treat it with highest respect
.. The Lord is serious about the offerings we give
.. The Lord has His ways in us giving offerings to Him - He doesn't take it lightly 
.. He blesses those who are obedient even to the generations that follow 

Have I ever treated my offering to the Lord in contempt?  What causes people to treat their offering to the Lord with contempt? (1) sin, (2) selfish desires and motives, (3) no reverence for the Lord, etc.  

I need to constantly renew my commitment to the Lord with the offerings I give to Him.  When there will be times that I start to treat my offering with a slight contempt, I need to reassess immediately.  I also will need to be aware to make sure I rebuke those who do -- esp. those who are under my care.  

// Lord, may I never be acting in contempt with my service to You.  I want to serve You wholeheartedly.  May you give me courage if I am in a place to rebuke those who need to be called out in their own contempt.  I pray that You will already prepare their hearts.  In Jesus' name, amen.