Sometimes the greatest enemy of obedience is sacrifice. Especially when sacrifice takes the place of obedience.

For example, some “Christians” will donate large sums of money to church (sacrifice), but will not do life with those people (Obedience). By doing something good to the church, they think they don’t have to be a part of it.

Some pastors will cheat on their wives while working very hard at ministry to grow their church. To them, working hard (sacrifice) earns them the right to disobey God.

This was the problem with king Saul. God told him to annihilate a certain group of people and all their animals. But he kept some for himself and when he was confronted about it, his explanation was that he wanted to give them as a sacrifice to God. But the prophet Samuel tells him, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

God wants us to trust and obey Him rather than choosing to sacrifice something of value. But why do we sacrifice rather than obey? Because, often, obedience will take an even bigger sacrifice. We would rather give money (smaller sacrifice) than our time (bigger sacrifice). And God will often ask for that which we put our identity and dreams in. He will ask for more than what we are willing to give…

Just because we are sacrificing does not mean that we are obedient.

What is it that God is asking you to be obedient in?
PH