Eli did not manage his household according to God's rules for family government. He followed his own judgment. The fond father overlooked the faults and sins of his sons in their childhood, flattering himself that after a time they would outgrow their evil tendencies. Many are now making a similar mistake. They think they know a better way of training their children than that which God has given in His word. They foster wrong tendencies in them, urging as an excuse, "They are too young to be punished. Wait till they become older, and can be reasoned with." Thus wrong habits are left to strengthen until they become 579 second nature. The children grow up without restraint, with traits of character that are a lifelong curse to them and are liable to be reproduced in others.

Eli styrede ikke sit hus, som Gud ønsker, at et hjem skal styres. Han fulgte sit eget hoved. Den stolte fader så igennem fingre med sine sønners synder, mens børnene var små, og trøstede sig med, at de ville vokse fra deres onde tilbøjeligheder. Der er mange, der begår den samme fejltagelse i dag. De tror, at deres egne begreber om børneopdragelse er bedre end de principper, som Gud har nedfældet i sit ord. De gør intet for at komme deres dårlige tilbøjeligheder til livs og siger til deres undskyldning: "De er for små til at blive straffet. Vent, til de bliver større, så man kan tale dem til fornuft." Resultatet er, at de dårlige vaner får lov til at rodfæste sig og præge karakteren. Sådanne børn, der får lov at vokse op fuldstændig uden disciplin, besidder karaktertræk, som er til forbandelse for dem hele livet, og der er stor sandsynlighed for, at de smitter andre dermed.