Tammy On Tuesday ~ The Danger of Negotiation

PINIMAGE

In our Tuesday night women’s Bible study, I challenged the women to consider that God desires to do a “God-sized” work in all of our lives. Another word that comes to mind is “the impossible”. I shared testimony of how stepping out in obedience to the Lord as a teenager has caused me to face impossible things throughout my life that could only be made possible by the power of the Lord. He delights in bringing us to the impossible to show us who He is.

And what I’ve found is…Luke 1:37 – For with God nothing shall be impossible.

I have always been a very type-A, do-it-yourself kind of girl and God has used the impossible in my life to show me that my life as His child is not about what I can do, but Who He is and what He desires to do in and through me.  Through this process I am finding purpose, peace and joy.

This has been a tough life-long lesson for me. I naturally want to lead in my strengths. And He brings me to places where I find I am weak. Incapable.

In fact, through all He is teaching me as a Christ follower, I’m coming to realize that my greatest offering is not my organization skills, or leadership qualities, or attention to details, it’s obedience.

My greatest offering to God is my obedience.

God shows me an opportunity to glorify Him through my obedience. I obey. God receives glory and does what only He can. I trust God more. I am filled with joy.

You want to know what has been the greatest danger to that process in my life? It’s not outright disobedience. It’s negotiating the terms of obedience.

Negotiation – discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.

I’ve been reading the story of Saul in the Old Testament. Long story short, God chose Saul to be king over Israel. Through the prophet Samuel, He spoke His message to Saul. Saul couldn’t understand why God would choose him. He was from the smallest family of the smallest tribe of Israel. But God loves to do with us what we could never imagine. He loves to do what seems impossible to us.

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

So as Saul stepped out in obedience, God promised him a few things (1 Samuel 10:6-7):

• that His Spirit would rest on Saul,
• that He would make Saul a new man,
• and, best of all, He would be with Saul.

He basically says to Saul, “Step out in the path I set before you and obey me. I will do the rest.

But then, as Saul began to feel at home as king of Israel, he also began to take matters into his own hands. Remember, God called him out. God changed him and equipped him for the call. God’s presence was with him. But when God instructed Saul as King…Saul wanted to negotiate the terms.

We read of one example in 1 Samuel 13:8-13,

8 He (Saul) waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. (emphasis mine)

Later in the account of Saul’s reign, Samuel gives a message from the Lord that Saul is supposed to lead his men into battle against a wicked nation and to destroy everything in the battle.

Saul goes into battle but decides to allow the King of Amalek to remain alive and he keeps the “best things” – spoil, oxen, sheep, etc. to offer as offerings to the Lord.

Sounds noble. Keep the best sheep and oxen to sacrifice to God? That seems very “godly” doesn’t it.

He negotiated the terms of obedience.

Samuel rebukes Saul.   He says in Samuel 15:19-22

19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said,“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

When our obedience begins to falter and we find ourselves negotiating the terms, we are in danger.

You may know the end of the story. Because Saul ignored God’s instruction, God removed His Spirit from Saul and left him to his own path.

In 1 Samuel 15:23 we see Samuel’s rebuke to Saul. “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”

I’ve been thinking about Saul’s life, I can identify. When I stepped out into daily obedience with God, I found great joy in it. God’s presence has been that source of joy. Knowing He is pleased has given me passion for living.

But, even though I know this to be true, I admit obedience isn’t always easy. And I’ve learned the hard way…

• When I disobey it’s because something or someone has gained my attention and I’ve begun to negotiate the terms.
• When I disobey there is always a price.

Has God asked you to obey in a certain thing that you have begun to negotiate in your mind? Have you decided you will give God what you desire instead of being obedient to what He desires for you?  Perhaps you have set up a nice living for yourself.  You are giving God what you’re willing to give up and you are managing the rest.

Child of God, does your life reflect complete obedience to God or a negotiation of terms?

Does your life reflect God or does it reflect something else: security, self-ambition, success, worldly pursuits?

I want to leave you with one thought.  When doing business with God the greatest danger is negotiation.

When doing business with God the greatest danger is negotiation.

Why is that? He just might give you what you think you want.