Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 5:18 & 12:4

by David Chadwick

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.”

Proverbs 5:18

“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.”

Proverbs 12:4

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” The word “rejoice” means “to feel or show great joy or delight.” There is a biblical command to both FEEL and SHOW joy in the Lord. The Gospel of Jesus prompts a response from us. There is a biblical command to not just declare our joy but to demonstrate the joy of our salvation!

Do you know where else God instructs us to rejoice? It is a command to husbands, and he says to rejoice in the wife of your youth. That is today’s proverb.

A long-term marriage where two people have fought and contended for unity and closeness yields tremendous glory. Where they have shared life together over the years. Where they have together fought through and overcome multiple adversities. Where they have collective memories that are full of trials and triumphs. Where they still hold hands after decades of marriage. Where they have become one flesh!

I am so thankful for my wife, Marilynn. Her love and commitment have shown me so much about the love of Jesus. After all, that’s the goal of marriage. It is a physical representation on this side of eternity of the love Jesus has for his bride, the church, and vice versa.

Proverbs 12:4 says that an excellent wife is the crown of her husband’s life. I know this to be true as well! Marilynn is so excellent in how she loves and lives. I’m so honored to be married to her. She truly is a crown I wear in life. We know the joy of two becoming one.

My dear friends, if you are married, keep working on your marriage. It is hard work, and there will be trials, but remain committed. Make sure the back door of your marriage is locked from the outside. Share your lives with one another. Care for one another. Commit to walking through life's struggles together. Situation by situation, moment by moment, step by step, life will draw you closer and closer with Jesus at the center.

And your years together will be joyous!

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 19:17

by David Chadwick

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”

Proverbs 19:17

God loves the poor and needy. In fact, the majority of Jesus’s life and ministry was spent with the least and the lost. He ran toward the sick, the hurting, the poor, and those in need. Those with no future nor hope. And encountered them with his love.

There are many verses throughout Scripture that reflect God’s heart to defend, deliver, protect, and provide for the poor and disenfranchised. 1 Samuel 2:8 says that “he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.”

Psalm 12:5 says, “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs,” and Psalm 69:33 says, “For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.”

Even the apostle Paul said that his passion was to preach the gospel but made sure to remind all believers that they should never forget the poor (Galatians 2:10). I believe those who love God will serve him by serving others, especially those in poverty.

This proverb reminds us again of God’s heart for the poor. In fact, it says that giving to the poor is like lending to God. Today’s proverb even says that God repays those who are generous to the poor! And I’m sure God’s rate of return on our investment is greater than any bank’s.

Do you remember how Mary and Joseph had to purchase two turtle doves to pay for their purification after Jesus's birth? This verse is an indicator that they were not very wealthy. Yet God sent wise men from far away who gave them expensive gifts they could use during their years in Egypt! He is the provider of all our needs.

And once you are saved by Jesus and have the gift of eternal life, may we all continue to have a heart for the poor, remembering that when we give to them, it's like loaning to God, and he will repay us with interest on our generosity to the poor.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 9:10

by David Chadwick

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Proverbs 9:10

As we have previously discussed during this devotional series, knowledge and wisdom are both very important themes in the book of Proverbs.

Knowledge searches out the depth of information found through experiences, and wisdom is knowing how to, with sound judgment, apply what has been learned. Knowledge comes as you quest after truth and righteousness, and wisdom lives out what you know through good choices.

Do you know the meaning of the word "sophomore"? It’s used to describe a person in their second year of high school or university, this word means “wise fool.” Often sophomores are just comfortable enough that they think they know the ropes but are still making unwise, even stupid, choices. They have a lot of knowledge but lack wisdom.

Often it takes making unwise choices to learn how to make wise ones. That's why we should always have older mentors in our lives. They often provide wisdom to help us learn things without having to make big mistakes. My oldest granddaughter once asked me how I got so wise. I’m not sure I am, but I chuckled when she asked and said to her, “By living a long time!”

So what sets apart carnal knowledge and wisdom from biblical knowledge and wisdom? Fear of the Lord and a connection to the Holy One!

Proverbs 9:10 says that wisdom begins with fear of the Lord. And knowledge, which leads to insight, must be directly connected to the Holy One, Yahweh, the one true God.

Both wisdom and knowledge, functioning together, derived from a profound love and adoration for the Lord, will allow a person to seek him fervently and to live life as God intended.

Fear the Lord. Find wisdom. Seek knowledge. Gain insight from the Holy One.

And your life should go a whole lot better!