Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Stock.XCHNG.com/andreyutzu

Proverbs 18:22 (KJV) - Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

1. You have found a good thing. When a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing. There may come a time when a man forgets that his wife is his ‘good thing.’ He forgets the days when he knew God told him she was for him. He forgets the brightness of her smile and her laugh. He forgets the good times while remembering bad. He forgets how good his wife is.

Man of God, you have found a good thing in your wife. Do you remember the day when you wanted to ask for her hand in marriage? It was a day when you knew she was the woman that stood out among the rest. She was the woman God told you that was yours...a woman made just for you. You found her, and she became your wife. She became your help meet to fulfill the plans and purposes of God.

2. God found favor with you. Think about that for a moment...GOD FOUND FAVOR WITH YOU!

God specifically prepared a woman just for you - like a tailor-made suit or a warm glove upon the hand. GOD FOUND FAVOR WITH YOU!

Even though you may not think she is made for you at times...SHE IS! God knew exactly what you needed to live for Him on this earth and prepared her for that purpose.

3. Honor your wife by first honoring God. When we no longer cherish our wives, we no longer cherish the Lord. How could we say we love God, yet hate the very person He made for us (1 John 4:20)?

Marriage is like making grapes. There comes a time when the grapes must be squeezed to extract the most precious part of the process, the juice. As it is processed and bottled, it becomes more valuable as the years pass.

Sadly however, many marriages never learn how valuable their wife or their marriage was because they were unable to make it out of the ‘squeeze’ of submitting to the Lord individually; submitting to one another corporately; and/or loving one another unconditionally. Some marriages are ended too soon...and often because we never learn to first honor the Lord.

When the Lord is first place in our lives (loving Him with all our heart, mind, and soul), our emphasis is on the things that please Him according to His will. This would also include your wife. Mistreating your wife (for any reason) is a clear indication that you do not love or honor the Lord. When you have no respect for the Lord, you will not have respect for no one (not even yourself). However, you can honor the Lord and in turn, honor your wife (loving your neighbor as yourself). You can honor the Lord by:

• taking heed to His Word and will – applying them to your heart and life
• allowing your love for Him to dominate your heart, mind, and soul
• letting your love for Him to permeate your decisions for your marriage
• not allowing problems to separate you from your wife
• not allowing another woman into the place of your life or heart that is reserved ONLY for your wife (Proverbs 5:19)
• dwelling with your wife according to knowledge as the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7)
• striving for peace in your relationship (Matthew 5:9)
• loving your wife just as Christ loved you and the church (Ephesians 5:25)

A situation may last for a moment, but marriage is for a lifetime.

Cultivate the precious relationship given to you by the Lord. Show your appreciation and thanks by loving and caring for your wife.