A Better Love
I often share in my Bible study class my propensity to the sin of approval. It stems from a broken nuclear family. I have often compromised my own self, even God’s commands in order to obtain the approval of others. Many regrets in my life come from living for others instead of living for the Lord. Through many broken relationships, God has slowly entangled me from the obsessive need of other’s approval to living for Him alone. On days I backslide, a verse from Psalm 63 encourages me to repent and live for God once again.
Psalm 63:3
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
The word for “life” in the Hebrew could also be translated in the masculine noun form as “relatives”. Thus, the verse would read: Because your love is better than relatives, my lips will glorify you.
I am not a student of Hebrew, so I do not know if this interchange is possible in this particular instance. However, I know the Lord spoke to me through this new meaning of the word. His love is better than my relatives, my family.
For those of us who have difficult family situations, this verse is comforting. The pain of family drama has taken a toll on me not only emotionally but physically as well. Yet, I alone decided to allow tears to become my way of life and the stress to become my constant companion. I could have chosen differently. I should have believed that the love of God is truly better than the broken family dynamics that kept me walking on egg shells. Unfortunately for me, I sought people instead of the Lord.
People come and sometimes go but amazingly God stays. God is safe, trustworthy, loving, kind, good, faithful, powerful, forgiving, and so much more. People are well, dysfunctional, me included. Our dysfunction can be painful to ourselves and others. When we hope to find eternal love in a temporal person, we will be disappointed, hurt, and even broken. Thankfully, the Lord’s love is better than relatives, better than anything of life. He will be with us even if others harm us or forsake us. God lovingly remains.
I spent many years living for others, only to be left wounded and abandoned. I hope for the rest of my days; I will live for the Lord alone. Truly, His love is better.