I Samuel 1:27-28 “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.”
Most parents know little of what it is they do, when they stand before a church congregation and dedicate their children to the Lord. If they were to go back to Hannah’s day and live in accordance with what she meant when she uttered these words, they might actually think twice before doing it. Today’s dedication of children is more “ceremonial” like that of a Catholic baby baptism than it is an actual “dedication.” They want to stand in front of the church and show off their precious newborn infant, and have their picture taken as the pastor prays over their family, but most (I will not say all, …but most) have absolutely no idea what true dedication is. Dedication defined is, “The act of consecrating for a sacred use; giving wholly to; to set apart.” Let me define “consecrate” for you while I am here. Consecrate means, “To set apart, or devote to the service and worship of God.”
Giving back to God this precious life that he has allowed you to bring into the world, is a serious matter. (See Ecc. 5:4-5) And doing it before “these many witnesses” is important too. It is as serious as the marriage vow you take! (Maybe that is the reason they don’t get it. Most people today have no idea what a “vow” is either…. But I digress.) When Hannah made this vow (I Sam. 1:11) to God, she knew exactly what it meant. So much that she packed her precious baby boy up and sent him to live with the preacher! She knew that making a vow to the Lord was a serious matter! God had given her the child for which she had prayed and she had to keep her end of the bargain, and give him back! She says, “…as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.” So let me define “lent” for you. Lent means “to permit to use for another’s benefit.” Today’s parents want to “loan” but not “lend.” The difference is about who gets the interest, and the glory from it all. When you “loan” something, it is because you want something in return. Some sort of compensation, or condition is attached to the agreement or else you want what is yours back! That, my friend, is NOT “dedication or consecration.”
I am not the perfect parent, and my children are not fully grown, so I have many miles to go in this life, when it comes to raising children. They are not the perfect children either. How could they be? They have the same sinful nature that their parents were born with. I am sure that there are parents that could share their heartaches, and war-stories, that have been at this far longer than I, and I appreciate that fact. However, the point here, is that when you give your child to God, you have to LET God have him! Yes, it is going to be hard. Yes, the road is long. Yes, they do not always take the path that is right. Yes, you will have to punish them and even see God punish them. All that is true, but if you vowed before God Almighty, and a congregation of witnesses to give that child wholly to the Lord, for HIS honor and glory, then you better LET GO and LET GOD (to use a common phrase.) This does not mean that you walk along in silence and let your child say or do what they want. This does not mean that you have to let them “taste of the world” because of whatever stupid choices YOU made when you were their age! It means you follow God, while your child follows you. And you GUARD their steps (as well as your own) and REMOVE the obstacles, or stumbling blocks, whenever it is within your power to do it.
This past Sunday, my oldest son, Jon Groves, preached the Sunday morning message at our church. As he entered the pulpit, it dawned on me that this very day EXACTLY seventeen years ago, I brought him to church for the VERY FIRST time (he was 5 days old.) The thought overwhelmed me to tears. When I dedicated Jon to the Lord, I had no idea where I would be seventeen years later. Little did I know that day the many joys this child would bring me. Little did I know the heartaches, and disappointments that he would have to suffer on his own. Little did I know he would have three siblings soon to follow. Little did I know what God had in store for us. To God be the glory!
Though I like to reminisce of first words, first smiles, first steps, it is Jon’s spiritual growth that amazes me the most. God has allowed me to be present at almost every one. I was there when he quoted his first verse (Eph.6:1) and actually KNEW what it meant! I was there when he accepted Christ as his Saviour (age 4 1/2), and when he was baptized. I was there when he sang his first solo, played his first offertory, and played for the congregational singing too! I was there (at McDonald’s play-land, age 7) when he led his first soul to Christ. I was there when he surrendered to preach, and when he preached his first message. There are even some evangelists out there that have taken Jon's outlines from his blog and preached them at churches in other states! (A little bragging there:)) I have watched over the years as the Lord has allowed him to master several instruments, most of which he taught to himself. I am not bragging on me, I am just glad I got to be there. To God be the glory!
That afternoon, July 5, 2009, after he preached, I had to return Jon to Kentucky so he could finish his summer, working at Camp Victory. As I was thinking about all the many blessings over these seventeen years, I turned and smiled at him. He asked, “What?” I just said, “It seems appropriate that on this day, it’s just me and you.” To God be the glory!
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