+DEV+ An Idolized Son

Date: October 28, 2010 8:00 PM
Topic: +DEV+ An Idolized Son

An Idolized Son

"'Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me'" (Matthew 10:37).
Scripture Focus: Genesis 37:1-10

Jacob was a God-fearing man, but he fell short as a father by idolizing his son. Genesis 37:3 reports that he "loved Joseph more than any of his other sons." The fact that he gave Joseph a richly ornamented robe confirmed his partiality to him.

Joseph's brothers could see that their father kept Joseph on a pedestal. They grew to despise Joseph. Eventually, the sibling rivalry reached a fever pitch when the brothers plotted to kill him but sold him into slavery. Only God's intervention and sovereign plan kept him alive and in time lifted him from prison to prominence.

While the story of Joseph points us to God's redeeming plan for His people and for us, we also take a lesson from Jacob's favoritism to one son. As parents we may elevate a child, too, giving him his way and treating him preferentially. Such "child-worship" brings not only family trouble but also God's deep displeasure. Let's seek fairness in all of our dealings, never neglecting to keep the high pedestal of our hearts for the Lord.

Insight: The parent who brings a child up the right way will neither defraud the child nor dishonor God.