Saul indeed defeated Amalek, but he “improved” on God’s directive. Instead of killing the Amalekite king, he took him hostage. And, instead of slaughtering the livestock, he rounded up the best animals, intending to offer them as sacrifices to the Lord in gratitude for his victory.
When he was confronted by the prophet Samuel, Saul insisted that he had done what God wanted. In essence, he said, “I have kept the command of the Lord, but. . .” He had become so convinced of his own better idea that his conscience wasn’t bothered by his clear disobedience. After all, isn’t it always good to make sacrifices? Isn’t it always a good thing to offer the first fruits of your labor to the Lord? But Samuel cut right to the heart:
“Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). How tempting it can be to substitute our own ideas for God’s commandments!
Is it really important to go to Mass the weekend that my whole family is in town for a reunion? What’s the harm in a few small changes to my tax return? After all, the government wastes money all the time. Why not invite a Protestant relative to receive Communion in our church? We have so much in common anyway.
Actions like these are examples of what has traditionally been called the “sin of presumption,” and they often have unintended consequences.
Our lack of commitment may weaken another family member’s faith. Dishonesty in small matters can deaden our conscience in bigger ones. We harm the cause of Christian unity by acting as if we were farther along than we are in our journey toward full reconciliation.
Obedience to God’s commands is important—but not because God is a harsh judge waiting for us to make a misstep so he can punish us. Rather, it’s through obedience that God helps us develop our consciences and teaches us how to trust his wisdom in everything.
