ON THE VANGUARD

TO OBEY IS BETTER
"But Samuel replied, 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'"
I Samuel 15:22

Some of the greatest lessons we will ever learn come from learning them firsthand. As a child we seem to learn to not touch a hot stove only by touching it once and feeling the result. In fact, in many cases as kids, it only takes one time of punishment to realize what actions we should not do. But why is it that we have to learn the hard way? When my son was a toddler, my wife at the time and I worked through a program called Growing Kids God's Way. Although I did not agree with every detail, the concept of first time obedience and expecting it from my children was valid. My children, for the most part, obey the first time to this day. However, I cannot say that this same concept is always true of me. At times I find myself like King Saul in I Samuel 15.
The prophet Samuel had shared with Saul that he was to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belonged to them, including wives, children and all livestock. So Saul set out to do this. However, when it was all said and done, it was only half done. Saul had spared the evil king's life, as well as the best sheep and cattle. Because Saul did not follow fully God's command, God was grieved to have made Saul king. Samuel was sent back to Saul with a new message, this time of bad news.
Saul was happy to give his status report about following God's commands, but when questioned about the animals and the king, Saul blamed his men and said they were for a sacrifice. Sadly, Samuel gave Saul his news that because Saul had not completely obeyed God's command to totally destroy the Amalekites and all they owned, God was rejecting him as the king of Israel. Saul confessed that he did not obey for fear of his people, but it was too late.
How many times do we miss out on God's true blessings for us due to our lack of obedience? Saul was ready to go and make amends with God and give Him a sacrifice, but the point was God wanted obedience from the start. I am guilty of this. I find myself at times not doing what I know God is saying. I am grateful that God does forgive, but that doesn't mean I should go sin on purpose (Romans 6:14). I must obey. If I want God's blessing on my life I must obey all He asks of me. And sometimes what He asks is out of my comfort zone, or contrary to what I want to do. But for you and I, before it is too late, we must obey.