1 Samuel 8:6-22

"But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. 'Even so, we still want a king,' they said. 'We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.'” v.19-20
Samuel carefully explained all the negative consequences of having a king, but the israelites refused to listen. Israel was called to be a holy nation, separate from and unique among all others. The Israelites' motive in asking for a king was to be like the nations around them. This was in total opposition to God's original plan. It was not their desire for a king that was wrong, but their reason for wanting a king.

Often we let others' values and actions dictate our attitudes and behavior. Have you ever made a wrong choice because you wanted to be like everyone else? Be careful that the values of your friends or "heroes" don't pull you away from what God sys is right. When God's people want to be like unbelievers, they are heading for spiritual disaster.

When you have an important decision to make, weigh the positives and negatives carefully, considering everyone who might be affected by your choice. When you want something badly enough, it is difficult to see the potential problems. But don't discount the negatives. Unless you have a plan to handle each one, they will cause you great difficulty later.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible