Today’s 333 Devotional: “Wrong Actions Defeat Right Motives”

Doing wrong to make something right is just plain wrong.

This reality is played out in the life of King Saul. The Philistines had gathered to wipe Israel off the map with an army that literally dwarfed Israel’s small, rag tag, and ill-equipped army. In fact, those that followed Saul did so “trembling.”

For seven days they waited for the prophet Samuel, and every day more men deserted, hiding in fear. On the seventh day, and no Samuel, Saul decided to offer the sacrifice, something he knew was wrong, but he did it anyway thinking God would bless him, but also so he could keep what men he had left.

Afterwards Samuel came and confronted Saul’s obvious sin.

But Saul rationalized what he did wrong saying, “The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord. Therefore, I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”  (1 Samuel 13:12)

And Samuel replied saying, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God.” (1 Samuel 13:13a)

Because of Saul’s didn’t keep God’s word, God removed him and his descendants from ruling over Israel saying He had found, “a man after His own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)

Unfortunately, we’ll do almost anything to keep the status quo. Maybe a relationship is close to ending, so we lax our morals saying, “I’m doing this because I love them and don’t want to lose them.” We, therefore, sleep with them or move in together and live outside the bonds of marriage.

Like Saul we say, “I forced myself to sin so that I won’t lose the blessing of this person.” But we’ve done “foolishly,” because we lose God’s greater blessing.

God’s riches are far greater than anything this world can offer because the world’s riches are temporary while God’s riches are eternal. When we willfully live outside of God’s word, then we’ll end up missing God’s purpose and blessings.