Proverbs 18:22

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about God giving a man a great wife:

Proverbs 18:22 (NASBStr)

He who finds a wife finds a good thing

And obtains favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 18:22 (ESV)

He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the LORD.

We have all heard the phrase, "If mommy is happy, everyone is happy."  This modern day "proverb" is quoted and laughed about by many.    It elevates the woman in the marriage to be a controlling and dominant figure.   It would be foolish to think that is not true in many marriages around the globe.  However, that is not God's view.  Solomon (a man who married many women ... a devotional for another day) tells us in this proverb that finding a good wife is a "good thing" and is something that shows "favor" from God.   So, God uplifts the woman in the marriage as a "gift" from God ... someone special, to be adored and honored.   When man's ways please God then God, in His grace ("favor") provides man with the gift of a wife.  In our society the "finding of a good woman" is a mindset of men. They, like wild hunters, search the land for the "catch" of their life.   However, God sees it completely different.   Man may search and "find" the woman of his dreams.  But that woman is not someone he was "lucky" to find, or "skilled" to find, or "fortunate" to find.  That woman is a gift from God, who is showing His favor to the man.  Thank God today for your spouse.   Only God can provide such great gift.  And then, prepare to treat that spouse as a gift from God.   The mindset that the wife is a gift from God elevates how you would then, treat the gift.   If the wife is looked at as though she were a “catch,” or a “find,” or a “lucky find,” then we would treat that wife incredibly different.  But Solomon is telling us that a wife is a “good gift” from God and shows His “favor” (the Hebrew word for “grace”) on us. Note James take on God’s gifts:

James 1:17 (ESV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

God has given believing husbands a gift .  God has shown His favor on him.   In return we are to honor and cherish that gift.  We are not called to chisel it and hone it and shape it the way we want.  We are called to love it and honor it like we would our own bodies:

Ephesians 5:28 (ESV)

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

A wife is a good gift from God.   Honor her in that way!!