I laughed in court when a man who has been in and out of prison, convicted of a string of armed robberies, testified that during a dice game he was keeping an eye on his money because “everybody ain’t got integrity.” True.
“EVERYBODY AIN’T GOT INTEGRITY.”
Period. Mic drop.
Many of us lack integrity. King Saul lacked integrity.
When God commanded Israel to slay the Amalekites—every person and every animal—Saul and his men spared the king and the sheep and cattle. When Samuel came, he immediately accused Saul of disobedience, but Saul argued:
“I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”
“Then what is this sound of sheep and cattle I hear?”
1 Samuel 15:13-14.
Samuel went on: “‘Why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?’ ‘But I DID OBEY THE LORD,’ Saul answered, arguing he only spared the animals so he could sacrifice them to the Lord.
Saul could not grasp that he was in the wrong—God gave him an order and he failed to obey. Samuel tried again:
“Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience? Behold, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, and to heed than the fat of rams. For REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT (wow!) AND INSUBORDINATION IS AS THE SIN OF IDOLATRY. Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, He has rejected you as king” 1 Samuel 15:23.
Are you ever tempted to think you can excuse sin by making some sacrifice? That worshipping God well or serving Him in one area can make up for failures in other areas? It is a lie. TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE.
God, bless us with integrity—make us people who obey you even in secret. HELP US LIVE LIVES OF OBEDIENCE, NOT SHOWY WORSHIP. If we have ever been deceived into thinking our religious deeds could make up for areas where we disobey, show us. Make us true worshippers, who strive to obey, not to appear religious.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 