But as for me, it is better for me to cling to the Lord

Introduction and General Message
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III mentions that life experiences and its pleasures — as tried by David, Solomon and other biblical figures — finally showed their vanity compared to clinging to God, the spiritual summary being that the best benefit for man is steady union with God, not transient pleasures.

Examples from Scripture and spiritual history
The lecture presents examples: David who after all his attainments saw that it is better to cling to the Lord, Solomon who found everything vain, Lot who followed the pleasures of the earth and lost, Samson who wasted his strength and whose end was misery, and other examples of the fathers who left wealth and attachment to the world and gained spiritual benefit.

Meaning of clinging practically and spiritually
Clinging does not mean merely an apparent or temporary nearness, but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within man, so that the person’s life becomes a union with Christ: the thoughts of Christ, the will of Christ, and His work in us like the branch connected to the vine that lives by the vine’s sap and bears fruit.

Permanence of the relationship and the fruit of clinging
Clinging is required to be permanent not temporary, a continuing covenant with God that prevents separation in trials or temptations, and makes the believer endure the tests and accept the struggle because the fruit of that is a holy life, increasing graces and heavenly rewards.

Dealing with trials and suffering
Trials do not indicate failure of clinging but may be a means for the growth of grace, and the believer who clings to the Lord endures hardships because the Lord rewards the struggle and grants strengthening and greater spiritual attainments.

Reflection of clinging on behavior and spreading love
Whoever tastes the sweetness of God loves to lead others to Him; the sign of clinging is that the person becomes giving, invites people to the experience of spiritual delight, and the image of God appears in his conduct, speech and good deeds.

Final call to repentance and clinging
The call is directed to all: remember God in your youth, and if you did not, begin now, for the Lord accepts the repentant and declares: “Return to me and I will return to you” — and permanent clinging is the way to salvation and spiritual ascent.

Clinging

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