Power and Responsibility

By Danny Saavedra

“Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says . . . ‘Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. . . . 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 priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.’”—1 Samuel 2:27–36 (NIV)

I’ve always been a big fan of Spider-Man. One of the most iconic and significant moments in Peter Parker’s journey to being a hero is when his Uncle Ben gives him this piece of advice: “With great power comes great responsibility.” Such a powerful line, right? And friends, it’s a deeply biblical truth!

Consider the Parable of the Talents. In Matthew 25:14–30 (ESV), Jesus shares a story of three servants who were entrusted with their master’s resources, “each according to his ability.” The first two servants used what they were given wisely, and when the master returned, He said to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” But the third servant did nothing with it. He didn’t steward what he was given; he buried it. And so, the master said to him, “You wicked and slothful servant . . . take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

What was Jesus trying to teach us here? That whatever gifts, talents, resources, calling, influence, appointment, anointing, position, or power the Lord gives you, no matter how small or great, comes with great responsibility. What responsibility? To be faithful and steward it well.

And this brings us to today’s passage. You see, Eli was given a great responsibility as he was put in two positions of priesthood by the Lord. God said to Eli through a man of God, “I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest.” Eli was a priest in the line of Levi, of Aaron. He was priest at Shiloh, but he was also priest in his home to his family, his sons Hophni and Phinehas. And in both areas of priesthood, Eli didn’t faithfully steward his great power. He failed to teach, disciple, or discipline his sons, who committed serious sins, such as stealing portions of the sacrificial offerings meant for God and engaging in sexual immorality with women who served at the entrance to the Tabernacle. Eli’s son abused their positions as priests in large part because Eli didn’t live up to the calling he was given. He failed to steward his parental and positional priesthood.

The consequences of this were severe. The Lord declared to Eli, “The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, and you will see distress in my dwelling. . . . And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day.”

The lesson for us is to remember that with great power comes great responsibility. Whatever God has given us, whether gifts, or finances, or a seat of influence, or a calling in ministry, or the role of parent, sibling, friend, or whatever else. we must be faithful with it. Hophni, Phineas, and Eli were given a high calling and power and they misused it, abused it, and shirked it. So, they experienced the consequences. The same is true for us!

I offer this truth warning as much to myself as to you. As a man who has been given the plural priesthood of being the priest of my home with my wife and kids and serving in a pastoral role, I must constantly remind myself of the weight of the amazing power and position God has given me. He’s called me to faithfully serve and lead others to Him, to be a shepherd to my wife and kids and to all of you. And though I’m saved by the blood of Jesus and sealed by the Spirit and know I’m going to heaven, if I’m not faithful, if I treat what God has entrusted to me like Eli did, it may lead to my children following the same path as Eli’s kids. If I treat my role as shepherd in the church as Eli did, it may lead to God’s name being blasphemed among the “Gentiles”/nonbelievers (Romans 2:24 NIV). I may be removed from this position and lose the respect and influence I have in my family’s lives. My faithfulness or lack thereof with what God has given me may have massive consequences. So, I pray daily that I may be like the first two servants. I pray the same for you, friends. And I pray you would pray this over yourself, regardless of the role, responsibility, power, or position God has given you.

Pause: What can we learn from Spider-Man, Eli, and his sons? Now, contrast Eli with Hannah.

Practice: Consider today what the Lord has given you and what being faithful with it looks like.

Pray: Father, I pray I’d never take for granted the different areas of priesthood and power You’ve given me. Help me to be faithful with all that comes from You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.