Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 15-16; Luke 14: 25-35.
Memory Verse: “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” 1 Samuel 15:24 (KJV).
God is a loving father and He can do anything for his children. That is why He sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins even when He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). But He is also a consuming fire, He does not share his glory with anyone. That is why He cherishes obedience above sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) . Thus, when He asked king Saul to destroy everything and everyone in Amalek and instead of doing so, Saul listened to his soldiers who felt it was better for them to take the best sheep and oxen in Amalek to make sacrifices to God. 1 Samuel 15:24 (KJV), “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” (1 Samuel 15:25KJV). God took the kingdom of Israel from him and gave it to David! (1 Samuel 15:28 KJV ).
Whenever you take to instructions contrary to the word of God, you are honouring men above God. David said in Psalm 138:2 (KJV), “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” That is how much God values His word. However you cannot give what you do not have; so it’s important that you study the word of God regularly so that you know His precepts and then ensure obedience to the word. Remember that partial obedience is worse than disobedience!
Other cases of honouring men above God include allowing your peers to persuade you to do what you know is wrong, acting dishonestly because of what others would think or say and failing to correct family members or friends in their wrongdoing because you want to maintain good relationship with them. In all cases, it involves seeking to please self instead of God.
If you are involved in any area where you honour men above God, you need to repent now and resolve to make necessary amendment going forward knowing that Jesus said in Luke 14:33 (KJV), “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
Action Point: Examine your life and identify areas where you have honoured men above God and repent of same asking God for mercy.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero