It is ever the evidence of the depravity of the human heart and mind when men and women imagine that they can compensate for their disobedience to God by rendering some form of sacrifice or obedience in a non-related area. This was the case with King Saul who kept the spoils of battle in disobedience to God's clear command to destroy everything. His claim was that things were saved to offer as a sacrifice to the Lord. The words of the prophet ring clear as to the error of such amplified disobedience. He said that God does not delight in the sacrifices of men as He does in the obedience of His people to His voice. He said, "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (ISam.15:22) Men will do much in religion, in charitable organizations and in all areas of life rather than obey the command of God in the gospel. The gospel is a command to be obeyed and it is to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." No human work will be accepted of God, especially not those works done in the place of simply obeying God's command to bow to and believe on His Son. The gospel is preached for the "obedience of faith." God-given faith believes and obeys the testimony of God concerning His Son.
The life of a believer is a life of obedience to God. But
it is not our obedience but the obedience of Christ that is our righteousness
before God. Christ was "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." But
the principle is still the same. No obedience or sacrifice to God in one area
will compensate for disobedience to plain commands of God in another area. God
commands us not only to believe on Christ but to follow Him, to confess Him in
baptism, to be identified with His people, to hear His gospel, to separate
ourselves from this world (especially its false religions), to love one another,
to pray, to give as He's prospered us and to forsake not the assembling of
ourselves together for the purpose of publicly worshipping Him. We are to be
"doers" of the Word and not hearers only. What an offense to God it is to offer
Him sacrifice or obedience in the place of obedience to His plain commands. King
Saul was rejected from being king. Let him be an example to each of us as we
remember God's words to us. It is ever the same before God, "to obey is better
than to sacrifice."