Is Your Obedience Really Just Sacrifice?

Most christians and a lot of non-christians can quote; Obedience is better than sacrifice, however, they have no idea where this is and what the difference of the two are, not to mention the context of how it was used and so on...

Lets look at the verse and go from there.

1 Samuel 15:22 NLT  But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."


There is a lot more here than most people think?  Notice the other "S" word; submission?  Most people reject or at least are uncomfortable with all three of these words: obedience, sacrifice and submission, and God uses them all in one verse-go figure.

I only want to touch on one point here, that most people think they are being obedient and even a few (very few) submissive when in fact they are only being sacrificial. Huh, what?  Think about it, when I am asked or commanded, in this case from God, to do something - like go to Africa (or just to my neighbors house) as a missionary, I would rather just sacrifice some income instead and send money instead of myself?

Come on folks, this has more applications than just your faith or lack of one!  Yes I will obey as long as I want to?  That is sacrifice not obedience!  On the outside they should look the same - LIKE I WANT TO DO IT!  On the inside they look different - sacrifice usually involves stretching me, growing in faith. Obedience on the other hand should be done out of love and joy which comes from established trust.  I AM TO DO IT (whatever "it" is) BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I AM SUPPOSE TO DO.

I used to tell my oldest daughter years ago; just obey me and I will give you the desires of your heart, all you have to do is obey!?


The reason I bring this up is that most people who sacrifice, wear it all over themselves.

Let us (me too) check our motives today...