Living in the Spirit
November 9, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 1:4-20

After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: ‘O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.’ –I Samuel 1:9-11

There is probably no greater role for a woman than being a mother and no greater role for a man than being a father, if for no other reason than the very future of society is in each parent’s grasp. I doubt if most people choose to have children because of the impact they will have on society but it is still true. The sole worth of the women of the Hebrew Bible, however, seemed to be defined in their ability to bare a male heir. Woe to the women who only had girls or never conceived.

Many would view this as an injustice today but the worth of women varies across the world. Some societies continue this ancient tradition while others, like our own, value employment primarily held by women less than employment primarily held by men. Across the board women are paid less than men.

Jesus valued women not just for their child baring potential but for who they were and the contributions they could make to the fruition of the kingdom of God. He obviously valued mothers, particularly his own as he assured she had someone to care for her as he hung dying on the cross. Jesus’ main goal seemed to be the fulfillment of the kingdom of God and to that end he required the talents and skills of all God’s children male and female. Still does.

Prayer: God, help us to see the worth in each person and help us to foster the development of every child, boy or girl, to reach their fullest potential. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.