“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far [better]: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more [needful] for you.”~ Phil. 1:23-24
Recently in my devotional time, I was struck by two words in the above text: “better" and “needful.” Paul chose the latter over the former, in spite of the fact the first being “far better.”
Such choices have to do, primarily, with timing. There are situations that arise in life when the better must give way to what is more needful. For example, a soldier fighting on the front lines knows that being home with his wife and children would be much better than what he is doing at that particular time; but the necessity of what he is involved in at present takes precedent over what he would prefer.
Our blessed Lord Jesus lived by this principle. The luxury of choosing the better was not always followed in His personal life, when the needful was present. There are times that the “better" has to be put on the back burner, so to speak.
Those who have learned this great truth find the “better" is always their reward in the end. And how sweet is is for such a person.
“All things come to those who wait.”
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