“And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”

(1 Samuel 8:18)

That dire warning to the Hebrews of ancient Israel has the same dire implications today for Christians.

A “king” in today’s terms is anything that takes the place of God.

A “king” is something you hold dear to your heart MORE THAN God.

In other words, God comes in second, and your “king” comes first.

Who is the king of your life? If not Jesus, then who?

Who guides your life? If not the Holy Spirit, then who?

Who is the master and authority of your life? If not God the Father, then who?

Maybe your king is money? Your job? Your girlfriend, boyfriend, or mate? Clothes? Music and bands? Prestige? Idols?

A king can be an attitude, distractions, lack of a devotional life, laziness or worry over “what your friends think of you.”

Is your king “loving the praise of men more than the praise of God,” as John 12:43 notes?

Even going to church regularly, without an honest relationship with God, can be a king in your life.

Substitute whatever repeatedly takes you away from God with the word “KING” and that is who rules you.

None of these kings can save you, except one … Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the real King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

     “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

Do You Want to Exchange Your Soul For a King?

Perhaps your king is time (or lack of time).

Are you too busy to fellowship with God? Have you let other things get in the way of your daily prayer life?

Do you only call on Jesus when you’re in trouble? Too busy “dealing with life” to deal with God?

It’s dangerous to try to serve both king and God:

     “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

If God ordains the path for your life, if God’s Word sustains and nurtures you, and if your life is centered on God, then why put your trust in a king?

If you trust in God in all things and for all things, why would you want another ruler over your life?

Putting anything first, puts God second.

Learn a Valuable Life Altering Lesson from History

In the Book of 1 Samuel is a valuable lesson we can all learn from. It involves the Hebrew people, a king, and God.

The Hebrew people wanted to be like other nations and demanded a king be named to rule over them.

A king instead of God?

They wanted this abomination even after knowing the wondrous works God has done before them.

This included, but was not limited to God:

• Rescuing them from the slavery of Egypt
• Feeding them manna through the years in the wilderness
• Clearing out their enemies
• Giving them the land of milk and honey.

But the children of Israel still demanded a king, even when the prophet Samuel warned them how a king would take the best of their crops and children to serve him.

God was not pleased. He was angry. He had set the Hebrews apart as His special people.

And yet He gave them what they wanted.

And so God chose Saul to be their king. When he didn’t work out, He replaced him with David.

David, was a good king despite his immorality with Bathsheba.

Many kings followed who did evil in the sight of God. They began to worship other gods.

David’s son, Solomon, married many foreign women, who influenced him to set up idols and gods to appease them.

It provoked God to anger for each succeeding king (be it Jeroboam, Abijam, Nadab, Baasha, Elahi, Zimri, Omri, or Ahab) was said to be worse than all the kings who ruled before him.

(For a deeper look at the kings and the abominable things they did, read 1 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings).

Key Takeaway

Much like the Hebrews, God set us apart as a “special people” through His Son, Jesus.

Jesus is the one true king, the merciful and gracious King of Glory.

He came to give us life, and life more abundantly. (John 10:10)

He gives us peace and takes away our fear. (John 14:27)

He saves us from death and our sinful selves. (Romans 6:23)

He holds us up in His right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

He pulls us out of the pit of destruction. (Psalms 40:2)

He sets our paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6)

He gives us eternal life. (1 John 5:11-12, John 10:28, Romans 6:23)

Why worship a Baal when you can worship the REAL God of the universe?

Search your heart. Is God the real king of your life or is He in second place?

You can only have one king. And only you can choose who your king is going to be.

Choose wisely, my brother and my sister. Your life depends upon it.

Give God the glory and praise Him every single day. He is your true King.