In any contest how you start matters. But even more important than how you start is how well you finish. A bad start can be overcome, but how we finish determines whether we talked a good game or actually lived up to what we said.
1 Samuel is full of good starts and tragic endings.
- It’s the story of a nation that started out holy and set apart, but eventually grew tired of being different and begged for religious and governmental systems that looked more like everyone else’s.
- It’s the story of an anointed king who started out wanting to do right by God but eventually gave into pride, jealousy, paranoia, and greed.
- And finally, it’s the story of a young shepherd who has to decide how much he’s willing to trust God to bring about the special plan laid out for his life.
1 Samuel shows what happens when we’re content with how things look on the outside instead of dealing with what’s happening on the inside.
Throughout this book, God is showing us that He is our everything. We can do and say all the right things, but what God really wants is our genuine love and devotion. No amount of religious observances can replace the need for a relationship with God.