If we read 1 Samuel 15, we see where God gave Saul specific instructions. To go and smite Amalek and destroy all that they had. However, Saul decided to do what he wanted to do. He saved the king and other animals. Time after time, God instructed Saul to do something, and he rehearsed the same pattern of disobedience. God even placed a man of God in his life to guide him spiritually, yet he rejected God’s messenger.
Saul’s disobedience removed the hand of God over his life. God gives us a chance, but we ultimately choose what we want. He gives us free will. God had a great plan for Saul, but he chose a different path. I always learned, “The instruction we choose to obey determines the future we create.” Saul created his future of damnation through his unrepentant disobedience.
Saul was more concerned about being a friend of this world. Saul was more concerned about pleasing the opinions of people. That is where we go wrong. We allow people’s opinions to detour us from what God told us to do. Was Saul living for The Lord or people? Who are we living for? Galatians 1:10 (KJV) says,
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
As the people of God, our priority should always be serving and pleasing God. When we are disobedient, we place ourselves above God, portraying that we know better than Him. We must not sacrifice God’s plan for us at the expense of people. We do not answer to people; we answer to God. We will stand before God’s throne to give an account.
We are living in a time where many “believers” are being persuaded by the crowd. They are more concerned about being politically correct and giving soothing words to the people. Nobody wants to stand for or speak TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS in this last day hour. God has instructed us to preach THE WORD, yet many preach their opinions behind the pulpit. Preaching what the people want to hear. The Word of God is a rock of offense, it breaks up, cuts, but it ultimately gives life. We are being careless about the souls of humanity when we do not tell them the TRUTH.
Are we more afraid of what people will think or say about us over God? Who has the final say? Matthew 10:28 (KJV) says,
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
At the end of our lives, God gives the final judgment. Who will we take our instruction from in this last day hour? Who will we live for? Remember, disobedience breeds destruction. Let us learn from Saul’s life. It pays to be obedient. It pays to live a life for The Lord.
As the song says,
“My life is not my own
To you I belong
I give myself, I give myself to you”
Raphael R. Roker 