"Nepotism Ain't What It Used To Be!" (1 Samuel 2:12)

My friend’s husband was just laid off from his job as an attorney at a very prestigious university. What was surprising was his family’s connection to this university. His mother was an esteemed emeritus professor and his grandfather was an important administrator for whom a major building on the campus was named. In fact, as my friend confided, the current dean owed his job to the recommendation of his grandfather.

“How can that be?” I asked in bewilderment. “All of his family connections could not save his job or get him a position in another department at that university?”

She shook her head and glibly stated, “Nepotism ain’t what it used to be!”

Indeed! Examples of nepotism abound. When the relationship leads to success, we nod and state, “The apple doesn’t fall from the tree.” But when the relationship leads to failure, we shake our heads and dismiss it as nepotism gone awry. After all, simply being related to a great leader does not guarantee success for a relative in the same endeavour. But like my friend’s husband, nepotism certainly has its limits.

Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
1 Samuel 2:12 (ESV)

The Bible has so many notable examples of nepotism. Eli was the chief priest for the Israelites and he had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who also served as priests. The Bible does not mince words and declared them worthless. They would steal the choicest meats for themselves before they were offered for sacrifice, they slept with women who came to the temple, and they did not believe in God. And yet, they were priests like their father. Definitely an example of nepotism gone awry and a situation where one might wish that nepotism did have its limits.

If you have confessed your sins and repented and turned to Jesus Christ and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, God will accept you as His child. It is a familial relationship that places us in the position of receiving His continual blessings, guidance, and benefits.

Nepotism ain’t what it used to be...perhaps in this life. But thanks be to God that through His adoption of us as His children and welcomed into His family, we will never know the limits of God’s love, grace, and mercy in our lives.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.