If the Bible reveals any truth, that truth would be God’s love for His most beloved creation - humanity. And if the Bible reveals any other truth, that truth would be that the greatest achievement we can make as believers is to love God. Jesus spoke this Himself.
“He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.’” (Matthew 22:37-38)
If loving God is our greatest duty, then the love we show Him outweighs any we direct to other people or things in our lives. This in effect, means God is our first love. Though we may know that God should be our first love. What do we do with that idea? Sometimes loving an invisible God is much more difficult than loving a tangible spouse. Sometimes praying to God is much more difficult than finding a person to give us advice.
If we are to hold God as our first love, then He deserves most of our time, effort, and energy. He deserves more than we put anywhere else. What we care about most, we invest into daily. When we maintain God as our first love, we choose to commit to Him on a daily basis. Psalm 37 highlights this idea well.
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37:5)
Though what exactly does commitment mean in this context? And is commitment the same as trusting?
What Does Psalm 37 Mean by 'Commit Your Ways to the Lord'?
Psalm 37 is authored by none other than David. The passage begins with an admonishment to avoid emulating the behaviors of the unrighteous. In one translation David refers to the unrighteous as “evildoers” (Psalm 37:1 CSB). Instead of following the path of these evildoers, David says to instead follow God. He says to “trust the Lord” and “take delight in the Lord” (Psalm 37:3-4). Doing so will lead to God fulfilling our heart’s desires and lead to a secure life. David lays out for us the task and explains the reward.
David furthers this idea in the fifth verse when he tells fellow believers to commit to the Lord, to trust Him. David offers an analogy for our commitment to God suggesting that we make “righteousness shine like the dawn” (Psalm 37:6). If our righteousness is as radiant as the dawn, then we are committing to righteousness every day. Not only that, but the dawn is visible to all who see. Thus, when we commit to God, all who see us will witness righteousness.
David continues in the psalm in the following verses offering a contrast between evildoers and the righteous. He even states that sometimes evildoers prosper on Earth in ways that the righteous do not (Psalm 37:7). This truth is okay though because trusting in the Lord leads to better end results. The wicked may prosper, but always “fade away” in the end (Psalm 37:20). On the other hand, those who trust in the Lord are never overwhelmed to the point of perishing (Psalm 37:24).
By the end of the chapter, the reader concludes that David’s words are true because following God ends in salvation (Psalm 37:40). According to David, this is not a gift granted to the evildoers, but only to the righteous. And to be righteous, we have to commit to following God. David’s psalm is an example of his commitment to God. He developed his understanding of faith, revealed through the psalm. And today his wisdom helps to shape our own faith and commitment.
Commitment is one of the main concepts in this chapter, and the other is trust. Both are integral to our relationship with God. The trust component of this relationship is relying on Him to act on our behalf as we seek Him daily.
How Do You 'Commit Your Ways to the Lord' in Whatever You Do?
We are told to "commit your ways to the Lord" in everything we do. David told us to trust in God and also explained why within Psalm 37. When we trust God, we remain confident that following Him will lead to God’s satisfaction and our own. This is highlighted when David delivers examples of living securely and being blessed with our heart’s desires (Psalm 37:3-4). He also cites that the Lord watches over the righteous and that their inheritance is enduring (Psalm 37:18).
When we trust God, we believe His promises before seeing them fulfilled. This passage is written as though David is speaking to others, encouraging them to trust God. This makes sense considering that God’s promises are not always immediate. Sometimes what comes more quickly is satisfying the flesh as the evildoers David mentions. This is why David purposefully says not to emulate evildoers. Waiting on the Lord can at times be difficult (Psalm 37:7). Following the evildoers may lead to monetary success, and even high social standing, but these attributes are temporary. God’s love and therefore His blessings are eternal.
3 Ways We Can Commit Ourselves to the Lord Daily
Psalm 37 is one of many examples in the Bible urging humanity to commit to God. For those of us who have made that choice, sometimes we are unaware of practical ways to commit. Here are 3 steps we can take today to commit ourselves.
“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
A daily relationship with God involves communing with Him daily. We choose the times we pray, but prayer should be an everyday occurrence. This verse reminds us that praying is a constant activity and in all seasons of life. When we are happy, we pray. When we are sad, we pray. Praying without ceasing also serves as a great reminder that is present throughout all aspects of our lives.
2. Study the Bible
“I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
When we are familiar with God’s word, we are able to readily apply His truths to our lives and those around us. Understanding what God desires of us is the only way to live a life that is His pleasing to His will. And the more we read, the more we learn. The more we learn, the less we are inclined to sin because our relationship with God grows.
3. Be in the Community
“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
The more we know of God for ourselves, the more we will be able to explain God to others. This includes believers and nonbelievers alike. Sharpening other people involves reminding them of God’s word, encouraging them, and showing love.
A Daily Commitment
God being our first love means He should receive most of our time, and most of our attention. This may sound counterintuitive when we factor in the time spent with our families, working a job, or engrossed in anything outside of biblical study. However, all that we do is meant to glorify God.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
When we can start shaping our lives around this idea that everything we do brings God glory, then committing to the Lord will become as natural as waking up in the morning.
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Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.”
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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"Pray Without Ceasing"
"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"
"All Things Work Together for Good"
"Do Not Fear"