“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
The first act of disobedience was seen in Genesis when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. From the very beginning, God made the issue of obedience clear and unequivocal. So what could obedience mean? In simple words, obedience means to obey or compliance with one in authority.
In 1 Samuel 15, we find the story of King Saul choosing sacrifice over obedience. Saul’s disobedience came with a price to pay. Even though it looked like Saul did something noble to honor God, he still disobeyed Him. God dethroned Saul and, no sacrifice could ever make up for his disobedience. Anything less than complete obedience is sin in the eyes of our holy and righteous God. Therefore Samuel clarifies the importance of obedience, in 1 Samuel 15:22.
As believers, the best way to check the quality of our relationship with God is to check how obedient we are. Whether it is following the Holy Spirit or keeping His commandments, obedience is the key to a believer’s life. In short, obedience unlocks the keys to kingdom living, the mean through which we worship our savior. Therefore, be cautious and pay attention to every decision made; for the word of God, says “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23). Your unwillingness to obey God will carry a heavy price. Choose wisely.
