Fight Devotional For MenSample

Rules Are Made To Be Broken

Before Samson was even born, his parents dedicated him to the Lord, with something called “a Nazirite vow.” The short version of what this means is that, throughout his whole life, Samson was supposed to follow three basic rules:

1. Don’t drink alcohol.

2. Don’t touch anything dead.

3. Don’t cut your hair.

Pretty simple, right? But you know what guys like Samson say: “Rules are made to be broken.”

Today in Judges 14, we’ll read how Samson first got to use his God-given strength to do something pretty cool. But that wasn’t good enough for him. When he came back later, he conveniently ignored one of these oh-so-simple rules, and he touched something dead. But more than that, he full-on dug his hands into it! Why, Samson, why? For a couple of fistfuls of honey. (Yes, you read that right.) Even by the standards of Old Testament times, what Samson did was nasty!

Stupid? Absolutely. Just like you and me. Before we judge Samson too harshly, let’s be honest. Even when we believe God has blessed us, we can still turn on him in an instant. Think about what this looks like in your life. What causes us to choose our own way, over what we say we believe is God’s best for us? In my experience, nine times out of 10, it’s because we see something we want, and then, right in that moment, that becomes all we can think about.

Lust makes us think, I want it.

Entitlement is that little voice that takes “I want it” and adds “…and I deserve it”:

I work hard. I’ve earned some extra.

I’ve spent a lot of money at this place over the years. I deserve a little payback.

I’m not getting my needs met at home. And sometimes a guy’s just gotta do what a guy’s gotta do.

When we start listening to that whisper of entitlement—I deserve this. I’ve earned this. I need this—we’re simply justifying our lust, instead of turning our hearts toward what we know God wants.