Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 25:3, The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.
How in the world does a foolish man like Nabal end up marrying such a beautiful and wise woman as Abigail? First, keep in mind that in those days, and in that culture, it was common to have a prearranged marriage where money and prestige could certainly buy you a bride, even to the hurt of that bride. Today, sadly, far too many of God’s daughters are choosing Nabals all on their own. Nonetheless, the fact that Abigail endured living with such a brutish, harsh, and selfish man, says so much about who she was as a woman of God. The Lord described her in His Word as “a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance”. How many woman today could honestly be described this way, not by man, but by God Himself? We as men desire to have a woman such as this one, but I have to ask an honest question. How many of us men who desire a woman who is both beautiful inside and out have actually done all we can to be the godly men we need to be, so that we can truly appreciate such a woman? Far too often both men and women of God desire to be blessed with a godly spouse, yet we do nothing to become the godly husband or wife that the person we are asking for will need. So I ask you now, “What are you doing to prepare for such a life partner, should the Lord bless you with such a person?” Abigail was the ideal woman, as described in Proverbs 31:10-31. Proverbs 22:18 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.” Nabal, in spite of his character, was greatly blessed. Yet, God’s blessings did nothing to change who he was deep down inside. Men, if we have been blessed with such a woman, what are we doing to show our appreciation to the Lord for such a blessing? How are we treating that woman, who, if she is also a born again believer, is also a child of God? If we have not yet met our “Abigail”, what are we doing to prepare for her arrival in our life? Are we doing all we can to be the godly men we are supposed to be? Are we focused on God and serving Him or are we too busy complaining about not having our Abigail yet? Are we a “Nabal” husband? If so, what are we doing to change? Maybe we have an Abigail who has been abused by our lack of godliness. Maybe the woman who was once an Abigail is tired and tattered because we have continued to be inconsiderate and selfish. Will we finally turn to the Lord so that He can make us the men we are supposed to be? Ladies…yes, I have not forgotten you. What are you doing to become an Abigail? Are you so busy trying to find a man that you are willing to compromise your Christian values and just settle for the first Nabal that comes along because you are lonely or afraid that you will never find the right man? Stop focusing on trying to find that man. If you have Jesus, you already have that Man! Let Him bring the right man into your life, when He knows that you are ready to receive him. If you are already married to a Nabal, a foolish and brutish man, then be an Abigail anyway. If your husband is far from the Lord, and you desire to have a man who will become a man after God’s own heart, then follow God’s advice in 1 Peter 3:1-6. It reads, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” The bottom line is that women of God need to be more concerned with how God sees them, rather than how men see them. Be the kind of woman who wants a man to see her through the eyes of God, and not through the eyes of men who are lustful and selfish; then wait for God to bring that man to you. Men of God, if you want God to bless you with an Abigail, be a man after God’s own heart and not a foolish Nabal, then wait on God to bring that woman into your life. I praise the Lord that in spite of the fact that I have been a “Nabal” more often than I would like to admit, He has allowed me to have my “Abigail”.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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