The Wife, and God’s Favor

Verse of the Day: Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.

I will start today’s devotional by saying that there is nothing wrong with being single; and as followers of Jesus our single days are better suited for serving the Lord with great freedom. Sadly, I see too many of God’s people waste time that could have been used serving God, being preoccupied with finding a mate, and ultimately rushing into a marriage that ends disastrously because it was outside of God’s will and plan for their lives. As born again believers, the best thing that we can do in waiting for the right spouse is to wait on the Lord. I remember attending an evangelism training class where the missionaries who were teaching it had grown up in the same local church and actually did not like being around each other throughout their years in youth group. They both left to go to college, and upon their return ministered together in their local church. This couple, who could not stand each other during their younger years, fell in love while serving the Lord, got married, and now serves the Lord, with their children, as missionaries. What a wonderful story of how God will bring together the unlikeliest of people and join them together in a marriage that honors and glorifies Him. Why is that not always the case? Well, it’s usually because we are in too much of a hurry, and often ignore the warning signs that the relationship we are in will not last; often making an emotional decision rather than a prayerful one, seeking God’s will as to whether or not to marry or remain single. I remember another couple I met during an occasion I had to sing and preach at a local church. This couple was in their 50’s and had remained single until they met at this local church, and knew, by God’s leading, as they served, that the Lord had led them to each other. Am I saying that it is impossible to stay together, even if the marriage started outside of these circumstances? No. I am not saying that. If a couple is willing to commit to the Lord, and their marriage, now, regardless of how it started, God will honor that, and hold that marriage together; but it will take the prayerful effort of both the husband and wife. With all that said, the Bible is clear that finding a wife is pleasing to the Lord. When God created Eve for Adam (from his rib), He did so because He said that it was not good for man to be alone (Gen 2:18). However, it is better to be alone than to dwell with a wife who is contentious and quarrelsome (Prov 21:9; 25:24); for this reason we must be prayerful and patient before making a lifetime commitment. Yet, when a man finds a good wife, she, as his helpmate, will be a great blessing to him and his household (Prov 31). A good wife will be a wife who, regardless of her physical appearance, will be a godly woman who seeks God and is a woman of prayer and studies the Word. She will be faithful and virtuous. She will be a woman who will encourage her husband to be who God calls him to be. A wife that comes from the Lord is a good and perfect gift (James 1:17) from God, to her husband. Can I say this right here, right now? Whether you are a man or woman reading this, and whether you are single or already married, can I ask you this? Your desire is to have that godly wife (for you men) or a godly husband (for you women), and the Lord desires this for His children, but I ask; what are you doing to become that godly husband who is able, in Christ, to truly love, or wife who is able, in Christ, to truly submit to, the godly spouse you are praying for, and desiring? A wife, a good wife, is truly a good thing, and is most pleasing to our Lord.

Note: If, for whatever reason, you have already failed in one marriage, and find yourself in another (regardless of the circumstances), know this: our God is gracious and merciful. He desires the best for His children. Do not be a statistic, but instead, refocus on the Lord, make Him the center of your marriage, and stay together. The Lord can put back together what was broken, and do it in a way that you will never expect, and make it better than it has ever been. Why? Because He is God, and nothing is impossible with God.

God created the marriage relationship and desires that we become part of His bride, the church. Our earthly marriages are a picture of Christ and His church. Are you part of His bride? A day is coming when He will return for her, us, the church (1 Thess 4:16-17; Rev 19:7-9). Do not be left behind because of unbelief (John 3:18)! Call on Him today, by faith, repenting, and confessing your sins (Rom 6:23; 10:13).