Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton
How often have we said or at least thought how we would love to be like someone else? We think that because others have this or that then we too must surely have it too. Last week we learned that it is important who we choose to align ourselves with. Now we can learn that we should never align ourselves with others just because everyone else is doing it.
In 1 Samuel chapter 8 we can read about how Samuel’s sons did not walk in the ways that he taught. This lets us know that just because parents raise their kiddos to hopefully make good choices it does not mean that they will. Verse 3 states, “his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.” This was opposite of how their father did and role modeled for his children.
They were supposed to be fair and Godly men of integrity, but they chose to align themselves with their own selfish desires rather than the will of God. When the elders of Israel saw how they chose to act and be, they went to Samuel to confront him and demand that instead of his son’s being judges over them to make them a king like all the other nations around them.
It was good that the people didn’t want to align themselves with the corrupt judges but it was not God’s will for them to have a king, but Him. God informs Samuel that the people’s request was not them rejecting Samuel, but they were rejecting God Himself not to reign over them.
God let the people know that they would eventually regret having a king over them and that they would cry out because of it, but God would not hear them because of the choice they made not to align themselves with Him when they had the chance. Be careful not to do things just because everyone else is doing it. Choose to model your life after those who make good choices and seek God and not follow after your own selfish desires. Know that if you choose to make someone or something king of your life other than God then you just might get what you ask for and regret it.
*Originally published in the Wayne Weekly August 7, 2021
Rays of Hope 