BETTER THAN LIFE

"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee." - Psalm 63:3

Here in America, we place a lot of value on human life.  It goes against the grain for us to believe that something is better than life itself.  As humans, we fight and struggle to stay alive.  We think that survival is essential in life.

In our text, David states that the lovingkindness of God is better than life itself.  The King James uses the word, "lovingkindness," to indicate love in action.  God's love is an active love.  As far as God is concerned, love is not just an adjective.  Love is also a verb.  Love is not an empty concept.  God's love is a shameless love for His people.  His love for us is demonstrated through His overt acts of kindness and grace. 

The greatest display of God's love is shown in the person of Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:8 states, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  God demonstrated His love toward us through the glorious gift of His Son.  Yet, God continues to demonstrate His love toward us in diverse ways.  We tend to take His benevolent gifts for granted. 

When I was growing up, my parents did not have much money, yet they found numerous ways to show their love for my brother and me.  I recall one night when Mom & Dad surprised me with the gift of a huge dictionary.  I was excited to receive a gift!  (By the way, I still have that dictionary).  I was thrilled to be given gifts by my parents.  In hindsight, I appreciate the love that prompted them to give. 

Think about the gifts God has given us.  He proves His love over and over again.  No wonder David felt that the lovingkindness of God was better than life.  The Giver of life is much better than the gift of life.

Because the lovingkindness of God is better than life, David writes, "... my lips shall praise thee."  David's praise could not be suppressed.  He had to let it out.  His praise would start within, but it wouldn't stay inside of him.  His lips would praise God.  He praised God verbally.  Whether others heard him or not, he wanted his lips to utter the praise of the One who loved him so much.

If we have experienced the saving grace of our Lord Jesus, shouldn't we be in the business of praising God?  His lovingkindness is better than life.  The Giver is sweeter than His gifts. We should love Him and praise Him because of His amazing and abundant grace!