Proverbs 8: 22 He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
I am a man who has gained mucho favor from the Lord.
Ten years ago I found a good wife. Or she found me. Someone got found. Because someone was lost.
For those of you who know Sue and I you know we have a really good thing going for us. In spite of extreme trials and tribulations, Sue and I have been able to persevere and live up to the commitment we made to one another when we said those vows. We both meant it and we still do. We have endured some rocky roads and treacherous waters but we are still together with a love that is deeper and richer today than it ever has.
We could easily take credit for our success for many people would agree to that because of what Sue and I have done to accomplish what we have. But our taking credit for any success or blessings we have as a couple would be beyond foolish.
A few years back I ran into someone in a grocery store who knew about some of the things Sue and I had been going through and asked me why I was still hanging around. Without going into any of the details, the struggles really rarely ever had anything to do with anything going on between Sue and myself. They had to do with people we both love who were (and still are) making some really bad choices that caused tremendous heartbreak and pain in our lives.
The answer to the person in the grocery store as to why I was still there was, "well, there's a God...".
And this God saw fit to bless me with a true wife. How many people can honestly say that they are able to trust their spouse completely? How many people can say that they know beyond a shadow of any doubt that their spouse will always be there? And most importantly; how many people have a spouse who has a heart and a hunger for God?
This God also saw fit to bless me with the ability to stick and stay and live up to the commitment. Every ability that we have that is meant for good comes from God. Whether that ability is considered to be a great talent or skill or even the ability to breath or type these words; all abilities came from God. None of us are the creators or originators of these abilities. When I hear people who subscribe to new age teachings that we all are ourselves God, I inwardly cringe and chuckle at the same time. I always think to myself, "could you just make let's say, an apple out of thin air?".
God gets the credit; the glory for the blessing that Sue and I get to enjoy. In the midst of great difficulties is priceless blessings.
Now if we look at this verse from the perspective of us believers being the bride of Christ we see this verse from a whole other angle. Is God blessed; obtaining favor by having any of us as His bride? Are we being true to Him? Has God found a good thing in us?
If He has we still don't get to take any credit for our righteousness comes from the cross and sacrifice of Christ. Any blessings, rewards, crowns, etc. all rightfully get returned to their source.
But I really like the idea of being pleasing to God as I like the idea of being pleasing to my wife. I adore her and I want her to be pleased with me. It's a two-way street. Love always is a two-way street. Or actually an endless infinite super highway. Love wants to simultaneously be pleasing and be pleased. And it is only in the hands of the Infinite God that this is possible.
The answer to the person in the grocery store as to why I was still there was, "well, there's a God...".
And this God saw fit to bless me with a true wife. How many people can honestly say that they are able to trust their spouse completely? How many people can say that they know beyond a shadow of any doubt that their spouse will always be there? And most importantly; how many people have a spouse who has a heart and a hunger for God?
This God also saw fit to bless me with the ability to stick and stay and live up to the commitment. Every ability that we have that is meant for good comes from God. Whether that ability is considered to be a great talent or skill or even the ability to breath or type these words; all abilities came from God. None of us are the creators or originators of these abilities. When I hear people who subscribe to new age teachings that we all are ourselves God, I inwardly cringe and chuckle at the same time. I always think to myself, "could you just make let's say, an apple out of thin air?".
God gets the credit; the glory for the blessing that Sue and I get to enjoy. In the midst of great difficulties is priceless blessings.
Now if we look at this verse from the perspective of us believers being the bride of Christ we see this verse from a whole other angle. Is God blessed; obtaining favor by having any of us as His bride? Are we being true to Him? Has God found a good thing in us?
If He has we still don't get to take any credit for our righteousness comes from the cross and sacrifice of Christ. Any blessings, rewards, crowns, etc. all rightfully get returned to their source.
But I really like the idea of being pleasing to God as I like the idea of being pleasing to my wife. I adore her and I want her to be pleased with me. It's a two-way street. Love always is a two-way street. Or actually an endless infinite super highway. Love wants to simultaneously be pleasing and be pleased. And it is only in the hands of the Infinite God that this is possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment