“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I
might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
We are using King Saul as an example of how someone may start well and finish badly.
One reason why people may not finish well is allowing pressure to press them into
disobedience or neglect of God’s word. Pressure can create impatience forcing the
person to try to help God by acting outside the word of God. This pressure can come
from circumstances that are contrary or from the adversary as we read in 1Samuel
13:8-14.
Pressure can also come from friends and relatives who may even mean well but
knowingly or unknowingly are trying to lead you into disobedience to God’s word or
instruction. “Samuel also said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His
people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus says
the LORD of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him
on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy
all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and
nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”……. And Saul attacked the Amalekites,
from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt He also took Agag king of the
Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But
Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the
lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything
despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. Now the word of the LORD came to
Samuel, saying, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back
from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel,
and he cried out to the LORD all night.” 1Samuel 15:1-3, 7-11.
King Saul did not fully carry out the instruction of the Lord because of pressure from his
men. “Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the
commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed
their voice.” 1Samuel 15:24. A man that will finish well must treasure his relationship
with God above every other relationship and must be ready to pay any price to preserve
that relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Successful people do consistently what other people do occasionally.