Foolish Works

But Samuel replied: Does the Lord delight in burnt sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To o eyes is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 
1 Sam 15.22

Samuel was speaking against Saul's actions. He had been told by God to destroy everything within the city they attacked: men, women, infants, all possessions. Paul's men, however,saved those things they liked, planning apparently to give them to God...Perhaps as a guilty escape for refusing to obey. 
This last action by Saul, as I recall, was the one that lead him to lose kingship of Israel. First the whole David and Saul things must happen...but Saul, worryingly for he himself, is removed from the Spirit's presence. 

This evening as I read a new novel, it came over me how many in this world are sadly astray with the thought that "if I am good, try hard, I will be saved". This is as foolish as the idea that worrying can put hair on one's head! 
If God prefers we listen to and obey Him to begin with, why would the "gift" of a "good" work be better to cover our sins? I do not doubt that He loves to see our working as He asked of us....but there is another key notation----we are already told to care for widows, orphans, those in need. How then, by attending to something we were told to do, can we possibly cover a sin? Since a sin is not listening to the Lord and morning Him to begin with, listening to good works will not absolve us of a gaping hole in another area of obedience. 
Yet, praise Him, we can ask forgiveness for our faulty obedience. We can ask for strength to obey and honor Him. We just need to know, remember and reinforce that our works cannot save us, we are only able to be saved by the death of the most perfect Son, and that obedience is one of the greatest ways of honoring Him. 
I read various verses speaking on grieving the Lord. Somehow I was suddenly stunned. We, wicked creatures so often, make poor choices that not only make our own lives more miserable, our friend's and family's lives more miserable....but we hurt our King and Savior. It as though we stand before Him as He smothers on the cross...jeering up at Him. Oh! It is enough to make one want to hide in shame and cry. 
If we continue to think we can earn salvation, it is indeed standing and jeering. We are telling Him we don't need Him, which is the biggest lie I can think of at this moment. 
Salvation is a gift of love from the Lord. A way to allow us into a deep, lasting relationship. So let us honor and obey, accepting His great gift, and understanding that the good we do was asked of us to start with---it is not a way of paying our life debt.