Obedience..... better than sacrifice?

Most of us think that when we sacrifice something, we have really accomplished something. It is good, but really, if you stop and think, anyone can sacrifice (give up) something for a short period of time. We often think about foregoing TV time for time with our family once a week or once a month. However, we should be obedient enough, disciplined enough that it is just part of us. In Deuteronomy 6 we are told that it is our job as parents to tell our children of the good things of God.

We are told early in the bible that we should OBEY our parents so that we can have a long and healthy life. This was the first command given with a promise attached. We are later told in the new testament that if we love Jesus, then we would obey his commands.
Here in the 15th chapter of First Samuel, we are told of a story where King Saul was given direct orders to destroy the Amelkites and all they had. Instead of heeding the instruction, he decided to take the best of the sheep and cattle for his tribe. God was dissapointed with Saul because he disobeyed. He claimed he would sacrifice the animals. However, if you think about it, he really wasn't sacrificing. He was taking the best animals from another people's herd. Saul had zero effort or resources invested into those animals. Therefore, he really wasn't giving up anything.
22 But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Strive to live a life of discipline, of obedience rather than sacrificing something for a short period of time.