Better Things

Intro: Every day we make choices. If you had to choose between good and evil, most people would choose the good. If you were to choose between good and better, the answer should be as obvious. There are five better things found in the Book of Psalms that the believer has as a gift from God:

1. BETTER STATE (Psa. 37:16)

It is the portion of the righteous, for the most part, to have but little of this world’s goods; some indeed have been rich, as Abraham, Lot, David, Joseph of Arimathea, and others; but, generally speaking, the wicked have the largest share of worldly substance, and the righteous but little.

Not that a little is often better than much, or that poverty is better than riches, or a poor man better than a rich man; but the comparison is between a righteous man and a wicked man; the issue lies there. The context is, that a righteous man’s little is better than a wicked man’s much.

The righteous poor are contented in their state when the wicked could not even eat, drink and enjoy their substance but are not satisfied (I Tim. 6:6; Prov. 16:8; Eccl. 6:7).

We as a church should be content with a small number of believers, than draw in a multitude of filled with wicked men.

2. BETTER WEALTH (Psa. 119:72)

The teachings, promises, warnings, and truths of the word of God are not only comparable to gold and silver for their natural worth and value; but are to be preferred over them (Psa. 19:7-11; Prov. 8:10-11), and to be desired before them. King David had a great store of gold and silver, but he valued the word of God above all them (Psa. 119:127).

3. BETTER CARE (Psa. 63:3)

The lovingkindness of our God and Father lasts longer than life, and therefore must be better than life itself. For life without the love of God is no more different than death! A man that does not have the love of God which is in Jesus is dead while he yet lives on earth. All that a man may desire– riches, success, health, honor, position, etc. are worthless without experiencing God’s love (Prov. 15:16-17).

4. BETTER FELLOWSHIP (Psa. 84:10)

Doctrinally, application is in the Millennium (II Pet. 3:8). But devotionally we can apply it as in the case of: An hour reading the Bible is better than 10,000 hours watching worthless TV or videos. A day of fellowship with God’s presence and the brethren is better than 100 days of concert with famous artists or days watching championship sports.

A year well spent in a Bible-believing, Christ-honoring church is better than 50 years spent in a dead church or religion where you hear the same thing over and over and not learning enough of God and His word to be changed!

The privilege of being near to God and the privilege of being called to serve Him beats any other profession or high calling on earth! Being near to God has nothing to do with rituals that give glory to places, idols, and men who are also sinners! Being near to God comes from worshipping God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23) and doing what He commands (John 14:15). Nearness to God is to love what He loves, hate what He hates, and believe what He believes!

5. BETTER TRUST (Psa. 118:8-9)

It is better to trust in the Lord for He is able as well as willing to help. He is faithful to His word, and unchangeable in his promises. Whereas man, though he may have a will to help, oftentimes has it not in his power; and when it is in his power, and has promised it, he disappoints, being unfaithful and unstable. Wherefore trust not in man but in the Lord for cursed is the man that trusts in man (Jer. 17:5).

The whole world entrusts itself and its future in MAN, to men of – science, medicine, politics, religion, economics, technology, military, etc. – to make the earth a better place to live in. God says that the whole world lies in wickedness (I John 5:19; II Cor. 4:4) and is destined to God’s judgment (Psa. 98:9; Acts 17:31; John 12:48).

Conclusion: Friend, can you truly say that you are trusting in the Lord? Are you prepared to meet Him anytime?