They put the nickels and the pennies in the collection plate!

(J. R. Miller, "Saul Rejected as King" 1908)

"Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys!" 1 Samuel 15:3

"Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and fatlings, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. But they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things." 1 Samuel 15:9

They utterly destroyed all the common spoil--but spared whatever was especially good. They kept all the fat, plump sheep and cattle--and destroyed the poor, lean and worthless ones. That is the way with a good many people. They are quite ready to devote to God the things they do not care much for--but the things that are desirable for their own use, they keep.

This spirit is shown in the way many give to the Lord's service. The gold and silver and the banknotes they keep for themselves; while they put the nickels and the pennies in the collection plate!

It is shown, too, in the way they treat their own vices and lusts. Those that they do not particularly love--they crush out with amazing zeal. But their favorite vices and fat, rich sins--they spare for their own indulgence!

The evil things in us--are our Amalekites, and we are to destroy them! Yet how many of us, like Saul, cut away at the little Amalekites--and spare the big Agags? Do not some of us also see the story of our own disobediences and failures--in the way Saul treated God and His commandments?

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