It's hard to be good when others are bad.

It's hard to be good when others are bad.  Maybe your spouse is unkind or your mother in-law is impossible. Perhaps your boss is cruel or your siblings simply don't like you.  Whatever the situation, behaving in a godly way may seem impossible. But we have a great example in the young boy (soon to be "God's man") Samuel.  While his guardian Eli the priest was failing as a parent, Samuel stood firm.  In the time shortly before King David came on the scene, Samuel 2:12 tells us that "Eli's sons were evil men; they did not care about the Lord."    And in spite of the disrespect, immorality, disobedience and shameless deeds described in Samuel 2:11-36, verse 18 of that same chapter stands out as a beckon of hope for anyone who's ever been surrounded by bad people:  "But Samuel obeyed the Lord."

• Even when his brothers were behaving like pagans, Samuel obeyed the Lord.
• Even when Eli was blind to his sons' misbehavior, Samuel obeyed the Lord.
• Even though Samuel grew up in an environment full of poor adult examples, he obeyed the Lord.
• And although scripture goes on to tell us that, in the end, "Eli fell backward off  his chair and broke his neck because he was old, fat and [blind], " Samuel obeyed the Lord (4:18).

What about you?  Are you obeying the Lord?

• Even when your sister won't apologize?
• Even when slander consumes your office environment?
• Even when financial strain threatens to destroy your home?
• Even when your spouse is caught up in inappropriate behavior?

Will you obey the Lord?  The good news is that there's always a reward for obedience.  Chapters 2-12 tell us that "the Lord was with Samuel as he grew up"; "he pleased the Lord and all the people";  he anointed the first two kings of Israel; he was the last and most effective of Israel's judges; and he is listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.

I'd say those are some great rewards.  Try it...God WILL see your obedience and reward you accordingly.