Daily Encouragement: Year 1, Day 37
Adapted from Handbook to Leadership
Personal Development: Obedience to God
Every Christian should periodically ask, “Do I have a price?” A godly Christian’s commitment to God should be such that he or she will obey him no matter what he or she is offered to compromise. Unfortunately, Saul—the leader who had everything a nation could want—lacked such commitment. When the pressure was on, instead of obeying God’s command to completely destroy the Amalekites, Saul spared the king and the best of the livestock (v. 9). That was Saul’s price—a defeated king to gloat over and expanded wealth through owning animals, one of the major contemporary wealth indicators. Later, when Samuel confronted the king, Saul feebly explained that he had saved the best for the Lord. Instead of owning his sin, he rationalized it.
How did God respond? He said that obedience is better than sacrifice (v. 22). God doesn’t want ours, He wants us. Why? Because when God has us, He also has ours. King Saul rejected the Lord, and the Lord rejected him as king over Israel.
So ask yourself, “What’s my price? What would it take for me to disobey God?” Hopefully, your commitment is nonnegotiable. Reread this tragic story of Saul’s disobedience to God and think through the tragic consequences of his failure.