1 Samuel 15:16-23
"Enough!" interrupted Samuel. "Let me tell you what GOD told me last night."
Saul said, "Go ahead. Tell me." And Samuel told him. "When you started out in this, you were nothing— and you knew it. Then GOD put you at the head of Israel—made you king over Israel. Then GOD sent you off to do a job for him, ordering you, 'Go and put those sinners, the Amalekites, under a holy ban. Go to war against them until you have totally wiped them out.' So why did you not obey GOD? Why did you grab all this loot? Why, with GOD's eyes on you all the time, did you brazenly carry out this evil?"
Saul defended himself. "What are you talking about? I did obey GOD. I did the job GOD set for me. I brought in King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites under the terms of the holy ban. So the soldiers saved back a few choice sheep and cattle from the holy ban for sacrifice to GOD at Gilgal—what's wrong with that?"
Then Samuel said, “Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around GOD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to GOD's command, he says No to your kingship.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I have to laugh at some of the people in the public eye these days who claim that they are “not in it for the publicity.” Clearly some of the stories we are hearing over and over again in our news are nothing more than publicity stunts… attempts to get people to “look at me!” Many of the “candidates” for public office who made us think they were going to run have already withdrawn… but they left us talking about them! Others are still at it… milking the media for every last ounce of attention.
A lot of these people grabbing the headlines are multi-millionaires. They could afford to send thousands of dollars – if not a million or more – to devastated areas like Joplin, Missouri, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They could build orphanages and create clean water supplies in Third World countries. And some of them do this. But many of them spend their money on lavish homes and cars, mega-parties, and gargantuan empires of “toys” and “stuff” – and more media buzz!
At the same time, I know people who barely get buy each month on a fixed income… yet they find a way to visit the sick and the needy… to cook food for those who are hungry… to rescue a stray dog or cat that doesn’t have a home… and much more. They spend their time and energy lifting others in the name of Jesus… and yes, they probably sent drinking water, toothpaste, soap and more in the truckload of goods that our church or another local group delivered to one of the tornado-ravaged areas.
A lot of the media seekers will stand at the microphone and thank God for blessing them and guiding their steps and decisions. But talk is cheap. God would rather they do something with the blessings He has given them and listen to Him when He says, “Use what I have given you to bless and care for others in my name.” He would rather they be obedient servants than celebrity seekers who are filled with hot air.
What about you? Do you “talk a good game?” Do you tell others how much God has done for you, show up on Sunday at church… and maybe even during the week for a youth service, prayer meeting or Bible study… and then return to your cushy life of focusing on yourself? Or do you ask God, “Where do you want me to serve today? How do You want me to use the blessings You have given me? What is YOUR plan for me this day?”
Selfishness and failure to listen to God cost Saul the kingship… what might it be costing you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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