"For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the
evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has
rejected you as king." - 1 Samuel 15:23
A friend of mine who is a jet pilot
once told me that whenever a jet goes out of control and begins to spin, the
only thing to do is totally take your hands off the controls and the plane will
right itself. This goes against our natural inclination to control and
manipulate in order to bring things back under control. It is scary to be out
of control. Or is it?
Saul was a man out of control. He
was losing control of his kingdom to David. He was losing the favor of God and
the people. It began as compromises. Eventually he was given a final test to
obey the voice of God fully. He was instructed to kill the Amalekites
completely; but he failed to follow through. The prophet Samuel delivered a
hard word to King Saul, "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has rejected you as king" (see 1 Sam. 15:26). Saul obeyed partially,
but not fully. It was partial obedience that led to his removal as king of
Israel and his calling from God. But why did Saul do such a thing? "I was
afraid of the people and so I gave in to them" (1 Sam. 15:24b). Saul's
fear and insecurity made him more afraid of the people and what they thought
than of God. At the core of Saul's disobedience was fear of losing control.
That fear of losing control led to partial obedience and the loss of his reign
as king.
How many of us are in danger of
losing God's blessing due to partial obedience? How many of us have such a need
to control people and circumstances that we fail to fully walk in obedience to
God's voice in our lives? Saul provides a great lesson for us as workplace
believers. The need to overcontrol things around us can prevent us from
receiving all that God has for us. Today, take an inventory of your control
quotient.
Ask God if you are being fully
obedient to what He has called you to do this day, and avoid being put on the
shelf for disobedience. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is
better than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22b).
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