Shameful Concessions

"Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality." 1 Samuel 15:9

Compromise: to make a shameful concession.

As I read about Saul this morning I can't help but think about a man with amazing abilities & potential but who refused to listen and abandon himself completely to the LORD. Instead he chose to waste it all on his own selfish desires! The most dangerous moment in our lives will be the day we stop surrendering, yielding, caring and concerning ourselves with the condition & temperature of our hearts! Saul had everything... the looks, the physique, the strength, the power and the fame...he had it all, and because of that it cost him everything! You see the problem with Saul was that he allowed his heart to lead his life instead of his God.

You see God was looking for a man who would abandon his heart, his life and his soul to Him, so that He could exalt him and use him for His glory. But Saul gave into one compromise after another. These concessions led him to a place he never intended to be! You see here's the problem with compromise and concessions...they never end! Just ask Tiger Woods about that! That's not a dig on Tiger, God knows but for the grace of God in my life I could be in his shoes! I'm only saying that at some point just like Saul, Tiger Woods started believing his own headlines, he thought he was untouchable and it cost him everything!

So how do you know if you're dangerously close to shameful concessions? Here are a few warning signs in 1 Samuel 15...

- We're willing to settle for good things instead of godly things! (v3,9)
- We care more about the approval of men than we do about the praise of God! (v12,17)
- We start focusing on the areas of our lives we've GIVEN to God, instead of those areas we haven't! (v13 20, 22)

Again the issue for Saul, the issue for me, and the issue for you will always be this...Does God have all of US? Am I completely abandoned to His will, His desires, and to His word? “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,..." 1 Samuel 15:22

Not Ashamed...Bill