Obedience over Sacrifice
But Samuel replied:”Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice 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. 1 Samuel 15:22
Saul listened to the clamouring of his men instead of the wisdom of the man of God. Samuel told Saul to attack the Amelekites and to destroy everything and everyone.
But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. 1 Samuel 15: 9
When the Lord spoke to Samuel and told him what had occurred Samuel was grieved. He went after Saul, found out that he had set up a statue in his own honor then kept going. He took with him the best of the plunder, that which should have been destroyed. When approahced by Samuel, Saul said that he had obeyed all the Samuel had told him to do. Samuel asks him why he heard bleating and lowing to which Saul replied that he saved the best to offer as a sacrifice to God.
Saul thought that a sacrifice would appease the man of God, and thus appease God. He was mistaken. God wants obedience not sacrifice. God didn’t want sheep and cows that belonged to him already to be set aside for a sacrifice when He had required them to be slaughtered immediately. The Lord also knew what was in Saul’s heart; seeking his own glory instead of God’s.
I often long to make sacrifices; time, helping out wherever I can, doing whatever needs done, giving things that others need, in leiu of obedience; sitting still and praying, talking to that person who needs a friend, forgiving the one who pained me, writing when it is time to write, teaching when it is time to teach. It feels holier to be involved in the work to be done, than to say no and sit at home, yet sometimes that is exactly what God asks.
Sacrifices often seem holier than obedience, especially in the eyes of all those who might be watching. We get caught up in what others think we should be doing and forget do what God knows is best. More often than not, when we set out to make sacrifices instead of obeying, we are doing it for our glory instead of God’s.
What are you sacrificing? What area of your life is the Lord calling you to obedience and instead you are making sacrifices claiming that they are all for Him? Hand it back to Him today, offer Him the sacrifice of praise and thanksiving, offer Him your obedience in whatever thing, albeit small, that He has asked you to do. Leave the consequences in His hands. He knows what He is about.
Lord, let me know right away when I am attempting to please men instead of You. Give me a definite sign that will remind me to stay on Your path not on the way that others would have me go. Lord, I long to please You, not people. Lord, help me to obey in every thing this day. Guard my heart lest I offer sacrifices instead of obedience. Lord every moment of my day is already Yours, every penny in my pocket belongs to You, every thing I own, every talent I have, all are Your’s already. I can offer You nothing that You do not already have. All You ask is my obedience. Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.
Amen to that, Heather. “Sacrifices often seem holier than obedience, especially in the eyes of all those who might be watching.” How true that is. I have often thought that my sacrifices are holier than just obeying Him. He had to show me that this is not true..
Thank you for the reminder…May I bring Him honor and glory through my obedience.
Blessings on your day and always.
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that is very much appreciated this morning. I pray that I be obedient too as “sidtracking” and “procraustination” are hard things to overcome!
Sacrifices…a Biblical term that I’m just now coming to understand. Thanks for shedding some light on this often confusing term. Have a great day.
I have tried to post all day, grrrr…. anyways, now I got on .
I find sometimes the hardest time to listen is when He said to sit still, many times we are ready and willing to “do something” but it during those times He say “sit still” I find the most challenging (and the times I learn the most)
Great post.
Ah… such true words. It sure is easy to fool the people around us. They see all the good things we’re doing (ie. serving at church, volunteering, homeschooling, etc) and think we’re such good, godly women. But we sure know it in our hearts when we aren’t doing what God wants us doing. Obeying Him might mean, as you said, sitting home and writing, where no one will see and we won’t get any glory. But we’ll be pleasing to God and be blessed as we obey. Thanks for this!
Heather,
This is a wonderful prayer. I have prayed it along with you. This message is so relevant in our performance driven culture. Be blessed, Love, Lynn