Losing Control

Many people are familiar with the life of Israel’s first king Saul. Many people know that his rule was not a good one, that he was jealous, dishonest, slow to act, and he never fully put his trust in God. Because of the way he lived he lost control of his kingdom in only his second year as king.

In I Samuel 15 God uses the prophet Samuel to tell the king that God has rejected him, and that the kingdom will be ripped from his hands (v. 23,28). Where did Saul go wrong in just two short years? Was it when he took the credit for his son’s military victory, or when he offered a sacrifice that only the priest was allowed to (and then lied about it)? Was it when he ordered a mandatory fast and threatened to kill anyone who broke it, or when he failed to carry out God’s orders against the Amalekites (and then lied about it)?

I don’t believe that there was one single offense that caused Saul to lose control. Instead, I believe this rejection was the culmination of two years worth of poor decisions. After each infraction he received a warning from the Lord, but we never see him heeding that instruction.

It is important that as Christians we remember that God is not out waiting for us to commit a single mistake so that He can pour out His wrath. Make no mistake about it—His wrath will come if we continue in disobedience. But if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

You probably won’t lose control of your life with one bad decision. After any bad choice, repent, and get back on the straight and narrow.