Be more patient than Saul

Patience is a virtue that is not especially common to man. We often expect immediate results, and when we do not get them, our faith begins to waver. Waiting on the Lord is especially difficult. Whether waiting for His return, or just waiting for Him to change our circumstances, we can often lose patience and take matters into our own hands, often leading to disobedience.

This was the case with Saul, who, having been told to wait for Samuel to come and make a burnt offering to the Lord, instead made the burnt offering himself. This did not go well for him. As a result, Samuel arrived exactly when he was supposed to, but bearing bad news: "It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel, but now your reign will not endure." Saul's disobedience cost him his kingdom, instead having the blessings he would have received being transferred to David.

In our day, the likelihood of God establishing us as kings on an everlasting throne are... shall we say "significantly diminished". Nevertheless, there is much we can learn from Saul's folly. To wait upon the Lord is wise, and to disobey Him may lead to the loss of reward, and maybe even punishment. Whatever you are waiting for, if the Lord wills for you to have it, wait, and He will give it to you in His timing. If it is not something He wills you to have, forcing it to happen is likely impossible, and even if it does happen, it will turn into a curse in and of itself.