In 1 Samuel 15 we have the revealing story of the cost of not fully obeying the voice of the Lord. The first king of Israel, Saul, was instructed by God to “Go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them” (v.3). Saul heard what God had spoken to him, yet we discover that he was only partially obedient to the command. As we read through the chapter we discover that Saul’s decision to “spare the good things” was to prove very costly for him and his people.

When Samuel the prophet was sent to reprove Saul, we find that Saul was confessing that he had indeed obeyed the Lord. But he was in deception ~ the good things of the Amalekites had deceived him. You will also notice that Saul was hiding behind a form of spirituality by declaring that they had spared the good things to “sacrifice to the Lord” (v. 15). How interesting that human nature seeks to cover its disobedience to God by declaring the result of that disobedience is “for the Lord”!! But God is not mocked, and God is not fooled by our covetousness and desires for “sparing the good things.” Saul paid a huge price for his disobedience that day:

• He lost his anointing

• He lost his respect

• He lost his kingship (ruling authority).

Things changed that day for Saul because of his pride in thinking he knew better than God. Like most disobedient leaders, he blamed the people for his rebellion against the voice of the Lord.

• The “good things” that he spared were the very things that found him out ~ the“bleating of the sheep” (v. 14)!

This is a huge challenge and lesson for every Christian today. So many of us are wanting to have the “good things” of life, but if God has asked us to sacrifice it for His sake, then we need to do that, because God always has our best at heart ~ He wants us to enjoy the best, but with His way of providing it, and in a way that He gets the glory. This message explains one reason why the Christian Church seems to be so powerless in these days ~ not much anointing, not much respect, and not much authority. We have spared the good things ~ things that God wants us to give up for Him. In Christianity, “having the best of both worlds” does not work! God is trying to get us to the place where we will totally trust whatever He says to us, and that we will obey without question ~ because we have learned that “the Word of the Lord is right”; that there is nothing more sure and accurate than that which God speaks. But we have to trust and obey what He says in order to see the fulfilment of His promises to us! And that means a total commitment to whatever He says. If we do not learn this lesson, then we will go the way of Saul and finish up with nothing of eternal value to show for our lives. Let the voice of God guide you into all truth, and into a life that has no regrets! ~ Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:  1 Samuel 15; Matthew 4:18-22; Galatians 6:7-9.  

Please Pray This Prayer:

“Dear Lord, I come to You in the wonderful and worthy name of Jesus Christ. I ask You to help me to prioritize those things which are important to You in my life. I really do want Your will to be fulfilled in my life. I want to have You as my first priority. I want to walk each day in Your anointing, Your authority, and fulfilling my purpose for which You have created me. Help me to guard against sparing any good things that really are a hindrance to what You desire for my life. In Jesus’ name I pray these things, Amen.”

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