and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 1 Samuel 8:5
One thing common among most people is that they want what someone else has. If no one else really has an object, very few people will want that object. The thing will be questioned as to whether it is really good or not, worth it or not.
If no one has, and no one wants it, there ‘must’ be something wrong with it. If everyone has it, then it must be worth it, or it must be a needed thing to have.
Businesses play off of this mindset of people. They make advertisements that show that everyone has the product and that everyone else needs it to really live life to the fullest.
As Samuel was getting older, the people of Israel asked him for a king. They wanted to have a leader, just like all the other nations around them, to lead and guide them in how to live life and be a great nation.
Although the idea of changing leadership is not common for people or nations, there are other things that people want just because those around them have it. Groups of people are stating that others need to follow the examples of other nations or groups in allowing certain things to happen. Many of these things are against God.
Churches and believers are being pressured to be loving and kind in allowing people to live in open sin, and yet still be a believer. This goes against God’s standards. Believers are called to be separate and holy, not like the world around them.
Following God will be different than what the world follows. This is for the individual, groups, or even nations.
You must ask yourself why you want something or to do something. Is it just because everyone else is doing it, or has it? Or is it because God wants you to have it, or do it?
Your life should be focused on serving and pleasing God, and not be trying to fit in with the world. You are different, set apart to be holy unto God.
What you have is greater than anything the world can offer. What the world offers is death. God gives life and abundant life for all eternity.
What do you really want?
I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior and King; that you will find all your desires in God; that you will desire to serve and love God with your whole life; and that you will follow all the ways of God.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
