The least

I want to tell you about something I've observed in my ministering over the years. It's a tendency that I have observed working in certain people...
..I'm speaking here as a Sociologist (and not qualified to do that), so I am taking a liberty. Here's what I've noticed frequently.....

What you like the least is what you need the most.

It's true. That which you like the least is probably what you need the most to change or redirect your life, in a positive way…..

• The people that seem to have a problem with teachings on giving finances are usually stingy people, selfish towards God with their money. Selfish toward missions, selfish to the Salvation army, Samaritan's Purse & other helpful organizations, blinded to the needs of others, compassion-challenged people in whatever…they just horde what they have. What they like the least….giving or sharing, …they need to do the most….

• The people that take exception to teachings on commitment, keeping holy the Sabbath and to the church in general, are generally the unfaithful ones. Many times they are the ones that so often misrepresent church life and church culture because they do it half-heartily, and then try to represent the Christian faith. They lack the depth and understanding to properly give a good account of our faith.

• Likewise, the people who have problems with authority and boundaries are usually rebellious and obstinate. What they hate to do is observe the rules. Unfortunately, they usually are continually having difficulties (and can't figure out why). What they think they need the least, is really what they need the most. They rebel against what they need the most to make a better life for themselves…..

All of these mentioned above, and many others, never make the connection that what they have been doing the least is what they need to do the most (please, don't anyone bring up me NOT eating broccoli here).

In 1 Sam 15, what Saul wanted to do the least….destroy those good animals he had taken as spoils….obey Samuel's totally God-given instructions concerning postwar conduct…..and not play by his own rulz...was what he needed to do the most to get the blessing of God and favor as a King. His blessing was withheld because what he did the least- obey God and the prophet whom God sent to assist him - was what, as a God appointed King, he needed to do the most. Let’s look at it for a second to see the truth of this matter.

Saul is given a specific command to totally destroy the Amalekites and everything within their land. Saul destroys all of the people....with the exception of King Agag. He also takes the best of the usable beasts and brings them back with him. There is a key word I would like to infuse here. That's the word ‘unwilling.' Saul was unwilling to do what God had commanded. He was unwilling to obey fully what he was told to do.

When someone is unwilling, their own will is being exalted. Saul had exalted his will above the will of God. He had exalted his own desire to keep the beasts, to spare the King, and to listen to the people, above the desire of the Lord.
I want to close with this scripture which is so profound. It's found in Proverbs 13:14-15, "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Good understanding gives favor; But the way of transgressors is hard." 
The thing Saul needed to do the most was to obey God, but the thing he did the least was exactly that, and his path became the way of the transgressor. He lost the authority he had been given.
It's so sad to see this happen to all the Saul's in the world..... and really difficult if it is your kid.....but it is even worse if it is you.