For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
God gives King Saul one clear job. Saul does most of it - and today we find out whether “most” is the same as obeying.
Today's Story
God gave Saul a clear instruction through Samuel. It came with one important word: everything. Saul was to do all of it, exactly as God said.
So Saul went. But when the job was done, Saul didn't do all of it. He kept the very best animals for himself - the fat sheep and the strong cattle - instead of letting them go like God had said. He obeyed partway, and kept the parts he liked.
When Samuel came, he could hear the sheep baaing and the cattle mooing. “What is that sound?” he asked.
Saul had an excuse ready. “Oh - we saved the best animals to give to God!”
Samuel shook his head sadly. “Does God want presents,” he asked, “more than He wants you to listen? To obey is better than any gift. When God says something, the best present you can give Him is to do it.”
Saul learned a hard lesson that day: obeying only the easy parts isn't really obeying at all.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Saul obeyed the easy parts and skipped the hard part. Is “obeying most of the way” the same as obeying? Why or why not?
- When Samuel asked about the noise, Saul made an excuse. Why is it tempting to make excuses when we've done something wrong?
- What is one thing God (or your grown-up) has asked you to do that you can obey all the way this week?