The Danger of Overvaluing Stuff

In a world and sadly a church full of materialism we seem to overvalue material possessions.  So much so that many people believe that material possessions are a sign of divine favor. 1 Samuel 15 warns us of the danger of overvaluing stuff.  Yahweh had given King Saul specific instructions concerning the Amalekites.  Yahweh instructed Saul to destroy everything men, women, children, cattle, etc.  However Saul decided to spare the best of sheep and the cattle this suggests that Saul assign value to material possessions.  So much so that it caused him to disobey the voice of Yahweh.  Friends we have to be careful not to make the same mistake Saul did.

• Is that desire for that new outfit/shoes causing you to disobey the voice of God when God says give to your brother in need?
• Is that desire for that new car causing you to disobey the voice of God when God says give to support missions?
• Is that desire for that new house/condo/loft/apartment causing you to disobey the voice of God when God says bring all your tithes to the store house that it might be meat in my house?

Brother Saul teaches you and I a very valuable lesson and that is this that obeying the voice of God is worth more than anything else this world can offer.  For it is in this very chapter that we get the infamous revelation that God values obedience over any sacrifice.

Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 15

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

The Danger Of Taking Things Into Your Own Hands

Have you ever decided that you would just take matters into your own hands?  I mean if you want something done right you better do it yourself right?  Isn't this what society or our culture teaches us to do?  1 Samuel 13 gives you and I insight about the danger of taking matters in our own hands.  Saul was given instruction to wait for seven days for Samuel to arrive which is referred to as the appointed time.  Samuel was a bit delayed for whatever reason. Saul was under pressure and decided that he would take matters into his own hands.  Just as he is taking matters into his own hands Samuel arrives.   Samuel instructs him that because he didn't wait the blessings that God had in store for him would now be given to another.  Samuel said if you had just waited God would have established your kingship forever.  This teaches us some important truths:

• It is always best to wait on the Lord.
• Obedience is always the proper response.
• It is never a good idea to take matters into our own hands.

Let us learn this lesson from our brother Saul and say like the song writer who said, " I don't mind waiting on the Lord."  Get that into your spirit and God will be able to use you.  Wait I tell you wait on the Lord!  I don't know about you but I don't mind waiting on the Lord!!

Scripture Reference:  1 Samuel 13

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

The Danger Of Being Like Other Folks

First Samuel chapter 8 gives us insight about the dangers of trying to be like other folks.  First Samuel chapter 8 lays down a time in the history of the children of Israel where they had no King but they operated via THEOCRACY.  Theocracy simply means God served as their king, but they were not content with having GOD as their king they wanted to be like other nations and have an earthly king.  Think for a moment they had the ALL-powerful, ALL-resourceful, and ALL- sustaining God as their king and it wasn't enough for them.  Isn't that just like us:

· God blesses you with transportation but you go get into debt behind a car because you want to be like someone else.

· God blesses you with shelter but you go get into debt behind a house because you want to be like someone else.

The moment we take our affections off of God and focus them somewhere else is the moment we enter the danger zone.  If you keep reading you will discover that God granted them what they asked for.  However, they would soon discover that being like the other nations wasn't all they thought it would be.  Let us learn this lesson and be content with who God has made us to be and the provision that God has granted us.

Scripture Reference: 1st Samuel 8

God bless,

Bondservant Hollis