Welcome back to our sermon series, The Autobiography of a Fool, where we’re tracing the tragic descent of Saul, Israel’s first king. Last week, in Part 1, we saw a man anointed with divine favor, crowned with promise, yet undone by pride. Saul’s refusal to surrender his heart to God planted shallow roots, setting a faulty foundation for ruin. Today, we watch that foundation crack under the weight of his self-will—a moment that seems small but carries eternal consequences. Grab your King James Bible, settle in, and let’s step into the fool’s first fall—a warning for us all in 2025.

A Promising Start Begins to Crumble

Last week, we left Saul at the peak of potential—anointed as king, empowered by God’s Spirit, prophesying among the prophets. He had every gift a king could need, yet his heart remained unsurrendered, his roots shallow. Like a soldier skipping basic training, Saul chased the fruit of kingship without tending to the root work of humility. That faulty foundation was bound to crack, and in 1 Samuel 13, we see the first fracture.

Saul is at Gilgal, waiting for the prophet Samuel to offer a burnt offering before battle. God’s instructions were clear: “And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed” (1 Samuel 13:8, KJV). But as the days drag on, Saul’s army grows restless, and Samuel doesn’t arrive. Fear sets in. The people scatter. And Saul, unwilling to trust God’s timing, takes matters into his own hands. “And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering” (1 Samuel 13:9, KJV).

It’s not murder or idolatry—not yet. It seems like a small sin, a practical choice in a crisis. But this act reveals a fatal flaw in Saul’s foundation: he trusted himself more than God. He bypassed God’s word, forced his own way, and built an altar not to God’s glory, but to his own pride.

The Fool’s Altar: A Monument to Self-Will

Saul’s altar at Gilgal wasn’t a place of surrender; it was a monument to his self-will. When Samuel arrives, he delivers a stinging rebuke: “And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever” (1 Samuel 13:13, KJV). Because of this act of impatience, Saul lost the chance for an eternal dynasty: “But now thy kingdom shall not continue.” One choice, one crack, and his kingdom began to crumble.

This story echoes another fool from Scripture—Cain. In Genesis 4, Cain brought an offering to God, but it was his own: “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.” 

God required a blood sacrifice, but Cain offered fruit, ignoring God’s command. Like Saul, Cain wanted to worship on his own terms, to force his will into God’s plan. And God rejected it: “But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” Why? Because self-willed offerings, no matter how sincere, are no offerings at all. God demands obedience over sacrifice, surrender over self.

Saul’s altar reveals the same spirit. He wasn’t willing to wait on God. He didn’t trust Samuel to show up. He did things his way, not God’s. And that’s the heart of a fool: a heart that says, “I know better.” It’s a heart that builds monuments to pride instead of altars to God.

The Modern Fool: Chasing Self-Willed Religion

Saul’s story isn’t just ancient history—it’s a mirror for our hearts today. In 2025, we see the spirit of Saul everywhere, especially in the church. People want to serve God, but on their terms. The old-fashioned backsliding—drifting from faith but leaving on good terms with the church—is fading. Now, it’s a self-willed religion. People hop from church to church, chasing a worship style or preacher that fits their preferences. They’re not seeking God’s will—they’re seeking comfort, control, and a faith that bends to their lifestyle.

It’s Saul at Gilgal, building an altar to pride. It’s Cain, offering fruit instead of blood. It’s the fool who says, “I’ll do it my way.” But God doesn’t accept sacrifices drenched in self-will. He calls us to die to self, to trust His timing, to follow His instructions—no matter how slow or inconvenient they seem.

The Key Truth: Disobedience Through Impatience

Saul’s mistake wasn’t just offering the sacrifice; it was the heart behind it. He stepped out of his role as king, driven by ignorance— Solomon declared, “The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness.” And a hatred of instruction—“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?” 

He didn’t wait for Samuel because he didn’t trust God to come through. His impatience revealed a deeper truth: Saul trusted himself more than God. That self-willed bypass of God’s timing cracked his foundation wide open, setting the stage for greater ruin.

In spiritual warfare, we’re soldiers trained to follow orders, not improvise. Saul improvised, and the consequences were catastrophic. His altar, meant to be a place of death to self, became a testament to his pride. God rejected it, just as He rejects any offering we bring on our own terms.

Application: Die to Self, Trust God’s Way

So, what does this mean for us? It’s a call to examine our own foundations. Are you forcing your will on God? Are you switching paths—churches, jobs, relationships—because they don’t fit your terms? Are you building altars to pride instead of surrender? If so, your foundation is cracking, and the storms of life will topple you, just like Saul.

True altars represent death to self. They’re where we lay down our will and say, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” 

In a world obsessed with the spotlight—titles, talents, social media likes—we must focus on the roots: surrendering our hearts to God, trusting His timing, and obeying His word. Anything less is a faulty foundation waiting to fail.

Ask yourself: Where am I tempted to take control? Where am I impatient with God’s plan? Lay those things down at the cross. Die to self. Trust His way. Build deep roots, or your foundation will crumble like Saul’s.

A Call to Stand Firm

As we close Part 2 of The Autobiography of a Fool, let’s heed Saul’s warning. His first fall wasn’t a dramatic plunge—it was a subtle crack, a “small” sin that revealed a heart unwilling to wait on God. But small cracks become chasms, and Saul’s story is a cautionary tale for us all. In 2025, let’s reject the fool’s path. Let’s build on the solid rock of obedience, surrender, and trust in God’s timing.

Next week, we’ll see how Saul’s cracks widen into ruin. Until then, take a hard look at your foundation. Where are you building monuments to pride? Tear them down, and let God rebuild you on His terms.

What’s one area where you’re struggling to trust God’s timing? Share in the comments—I’d love to pray for you as we walk this journey together.