1 Samuel 15:22 –So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."
Linda and I went to the Mall at Millenia several months ago. The parking lot was full. I was so puzzled as to why so many people were there on that day during the week. When we got in the mall, we saw lots of people in the hallways in a line. The line was for the Apple store because the new iPhone 13 was being released that day. People were standing in a long line for something better. They wanted what was better. We value better things. We look for a better job, a better doctor, a better way home to avoid the rush hour traffic. Better makes life better.
God likes better. True worship focuses on God not on man. Worship does not exist for my benefit. Worship exists for the glory of God, the pleasure of God, and the praise of God. God says that people tend to focus on offerings and exclude obedience. The offerings, which require sacrifice, value the role that God has in our lives. He provides for us and sustains us and satisfies the needs of our weary soul. We bring an offering to Him to express our love and devotion. God enjoys the offerings that we bring. But God says that there is something better. God wants better. God likes better.
To obey is better than to sacrifice. God calls us to obey His voice with more passion than a soldier does his general, a child does his father, and a player does his coach. Are you obeying God? He says to pray. He says to worship. He says to give.