Category Archives: Proverbs

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Trophy Wife

She Deserves A Trophy Husband

Synopsis: As a Christian man, if you desire the wife of noble character that Proverbs 31 describes – the truest kind of trophy wife, not because of her physical beauty and charming personality, but because of her godly virtues – then work on growing as a man of character. She will grow in response to the growth in godliness she sees in you. But even if she doesn’t, you are accountable to God to be that kind of man anyway.

Moments With God // Proverbs 31:10

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Most red-blooded American men want a trophy wife. And every man deserves one! Oh, not the kind you may be conjuring up in your mind right now—the kind hot babe Hollywood has invented—with the aid of cosmetic surgeons, make-up artists, and photoshop, of course.

The one I am referring to is the kind of woman Proverbs 31 talks about. She is a trophy gal not because she has a hot bod, but a holy character. Guys, that is a longer-lasting and infinitely more rewarding kind of woman than the carefully coiffed and cosmetically crafted woman our sensual and selfish culture promotes. The culture-built woman’s looks have a shelf life of only so long, and while you are enjoying her looks, if she doesn’t have a godly character to sustain her, those looks probably won’t be that pretty after all!

If you have a woman of noble character, like me, you are a blessed man indeed. I am doubly blessed with a woman of both beauty and grace. If you are looking for a trophy wife, take my advice: Set your sites on noble character above all else. As Proverbs 31:30 says,

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Now if the wife you have, in your opinion, is not a Proverbs 31 woman, here is what I would suggest: Begin to treat her as if she were, and watch what God will do. And as he is working on her, be the man of noble character she deserves.

And if you are in a serious dating relationship, make sure your soon-to-be trophy wife will have a sugar daddy husband in you. Not the kind you are thinking, but the kind the Bible calls you to be: a man of pure and noble character himself. What kind of husband is that?

  • He offers her a character that is morally pure: “your name [which represents character] is like perfume poured out [refined from all impurity].” (Song of Songs 1:3)
  • He desires to know her, talk to her, and listen to her: “Husband, dwell with your wife with understanding way.” (1 Pet 3:7 NKJV)
  • He refuses to control and pressure her into what he wants her to be: “Honor her, delight in her.” (1 Pet 3:7, Message)
  • He serves and sacrifices for her: “Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting.” (Ephesians 5:23, Message)
  • He loves her just as Christ loved his bride, the church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.” (Eph 5:23, NIV)

As a husband, if you will work on growing in those areas, your wife’s noble character will grow in response to the growth she sees in you. Even if she doesn’t, you are accountable to be that kind of man anyway.

And if you are not yet married, work on being that kind of man. And if you will do that, you will not be able to keep the ladies away—the right kind of ladies!

Take A Moment: If you are a wife, develop a set of growth points from Proverbs 31. If you are a husband, develop your set from Ephesians 5:25-33.

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Dependently Wealthy

Something Greater Than Our Independence

Synopsis: God provided manna for the Israelites to eat, but only a day at a time. They could only collect enough manna for that day, but they could not store it for tomorrow. Why did God do it that way? So that every twenty-four hours they would have to trust God to meet their need. That is where the verse came from, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deut 8:33) You see, God has made it so that we must come back to him daily because he is the source of all we need. That is why Jesus taught us to ask God for daily bread: to keep us ever mindful that our Father, himself, is the source of our life.

Moments With God // Proverbs 30:8-9

Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Who doesn’t want to be independently wealthy? Anything that provides independence, especially here in America, is highly prized. That’s why our most treasured national document is the Declaration of Independence.

Yet there is something greater than our independence, and that is our utter dependence on God. When we live in the daily awareness of our absolute need for God, we are dependently wealthy—and there is nothing better. That is what this proverb is saying—a vital Christian life principle that was repackaged by Jesus most profoundly when he taught us in the Lord’s Prayer to pray,

Give us today our daily bread. (Matt 6:11)

Did you notice two times in just six words Jesus refers to “daily?” Apparently, that was significant to Jesus. Why daily?

It is the only time in the New Testament that this particular Greek word was used. In fact, this word baffled scholars for years because they couldn’t find a record of it in ancient Greek literature—sacred or secular. Then, between 1947-56 the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and the word “daily” was found in both business and religious documents. It referred to a daily shopping list of perishable items good only for that day.

That brings up an important point to what Jesus is saying: Even though God is our provider, his promise to provide is provisional. That means prayer is not a blank check. Jesus deliberately chose the word “daily” not because God likes to hear us beg but to teach us the importance of expressing our day-by-day dependence on God.

Now that is hard to relate to since for most of us, we have not just today’s food, we have tomorrow’s food and next week’s food in our freezer. And when we run out, we have Costco, which is not like a grocery store; it is the size of an international airport. Employees do not use box-cutters; they drive forklifts. Your shopping cart is the size of a Volkswagen. You do not get individual items; you pick up pallets of food. When you check out, it is akin to making a car payment. Then you haul it home and you must figure out where to put all that stuff.

In twenty-first-century America, daily bread is not much of a felt need. Even still, that daily bread comes from God and it can be taken away in a heartbeat, so we should never take God’s provision for granted. But even if daily bread is not our need, we probably have other more pressing needs: a difficult marriage, sour finances, an under-paying job, an impure addiction, or a life-and-death battle with cancer. And the pressing issue is if we will trust God and lean into him to meet our needs today. The need may not be for food, but our need for God’s provision of daily bread is still just as great.

Remember in the Old Testament when God provided manna for the Israelites to eat, but only a day at a time. They could only collect enough manna for that day, but they could not store it for tomorrow. Why did God do it that way? So that every twenty-four hours they would have to trust God to meet their need. That is where the verse came from, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deut 8:33)

What does that mean? God has made it so that we must come back to him daily because he is the source of all we need. That is why both this proverb and Jesus taught us to ask God for daily bread: to keep us ever mindful that our Father, himself, is the source of our life.

What is your manna? What drives you every twenty-four hours to say, “God, you are my source, and I am going to trust you for this. Today, I declare my dependence on you.” When you learn to lean into that truth every day, you have become dependently wealthy—and there is no better way to live!

Take A Moment: First, look up and memorize Philippians 4:19. And second, take five minutes to write out your own Declaration of Daily Dependence.

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Faith and Politics

Your Opportunity To Make The Master Proud

Synopsis: The key moments of history are not winning elections but transforming lives. Therefore, the most important thing a Christians can do for the good of their country is to leverage all their efforts for the ultimate goal of spiritual awakening, not political ascendancy. So, when we offer our political opinions, we must do so in a way that creates interest in the gospel.

Moments With God // Proverbs 29:2.

When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

Oh great! Just when you thought the political fervor that roiled the public might die down, another election cycle looms, and the free-for-all starts over. It seems that we are never more than a few months from a full-out war for the White House, or Congress, or the possibility of controversial Supreme Court decisions that will dominate the airwaves, print media, and water-cooler conversations for much too long. Like Christmas, political seasons come earlier and earlier—and each outdoes the others with the craziness it births in the citizenry.

So what’s a Christian to do? Whatever your political persuasion or your beliefs about the mixing of Christ and politics, the Bible makes it clear: We have an obligation to engage our culture at every level—including the political level—as ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Christ desires his people to encounter this world, in every country, in every city, at every level, as his emissaries representing the interests of his kingdom! And we must never apologize or retreat from that—even in our politics!

Contrary to what we’re being told today in America, it was for this very purpose that our forebears fled England for the new world. The pilgrims’ stated mission was clearly articulated in the Mayflower Compact: “For the glory of God, and the Propagation of the Christian Faith.” Those are our roots—our nation’s true birth certificate! Since that time, Christians have played a central role in shaping American government—and must continue to do so, even in this risky political climate.

Why? Simply because, as Charles Finney said, “God will bless or curse the nation according to the [political] course Christians take.” So if Christians don’t speak into our political process, who else will be the moral compass of our nation? Jesus said in Matthew 5:13,

You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing all night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all.” (Living Bible)

Now having said that, just remember this: The key moments of history are not winning elections but transforming lives. Therefore, the most important thing Christians can do for the good of their country is to leverage all their efforts for the ultimate goal of spiritual awakening, not political ascendancy. When we offer our political opinions, we must do so in a way that creates interest in the gospel! 1 Peter 2:13-17 says,

“Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you are a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.” (The Message)

Unfortunately, some politically active believers are shrill and obnoxious, not a winsome witness to the Good News. To a large degree, that is why many think we are “a danger to society.” But if we can engage with “respect for the authorities, whatever their level…treat everyone with dignity…and respect the government,” then our ultimate objective of transforming lives will be advanced.

Likewise, as we engage, we need to value God’s agenda over our party’s platform. Jesus said, “Make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” (Matthew 6:33) Whenever possible, our political energies should be leveraged to vigorously promote kingdom concerns, such as:

  • Speaking out for the innocent and vulnerable! Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” That means not only babies who face abortion before they leave the womb, but the destitute, the immigrant, and the marginalized.
  • Defending the poor and oppressed! Proverbs 31:9 says, “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
  • Confronting sin and moral decay! Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Again, this calls for speaking truth to power but doing it with gentleness and respect. Truth without love becomes a cudgel that may force compliance but will never win hearts.
  • Working toward the peace and prosperity of Israel! Psalm 122:6 tells us, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.” That is not to say that we remain silent when Israel acts immorally or inhumanely—even God didn’t turn a blind eye to their wicked behavior—but it is to recognize their special place in God’s plan for the ages.

By engaging in our political world assertively, respectfully, and Christianly, you and I will “make the Master proud by being a good citizen”—dual citizens, actually, of both heaven and earth. And, giving Jesus reason to be proud is what is most important!

Take A Moment: Memorize Romans 13:1-6 from The Message, “Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it is God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible to God, and God will hold you responsible…Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders”

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O For Intelligent, Sensible Leaders!

Good Character Makes A Good Leader

Synopsis: Nothing significant happens in life without someone providing good leadership to achieve it. That is just one of the immutable laws of life. Everything rises or falls on leadership — and if it is going to rise, then it will require a foundation of intelligent, sensible leadership. If it falls, it will most likely be because there was a leader who had charisma or maybe even competence but lacked character. Since God has given you some level of influence in your corner of the world, ask him to make you an intelligent, sensible, and godly leader.

Moments With God // Proverbs 28:2

When a nation sins, it will have one ruler after another. But a nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders.

Nothing significant happens in life without someone providing good leadership to achieve it. That is just one of the immutable laws of life. Everything rises or falls on leadership—and if it is going to rise, then it will require a foundation of intelligent, sensible leadership. If it falls, it will most likely be because there was a leader who had charisma or maybe even competence but lacked character. That’s why, in I Timothy 4:12, Paul told a young, developing leader named Timothy, “As a young man be an example in leadership.” In other words, Paul was saying that more than charisma and competence, it is the example of a leader’s life that counts most.

The Bible tells us that David was just such a leader. He was one of the greatest leaders in human history, not so much because of his great exploits, or even his perfect track record, but because of his personal integrity. In spite of his well-known mistakes, Psalm 78:72 says of David, “His good heart made him a good leader; he guided his people wisely and well.”

Unfortunately, a lot of leaders today in government, business, and even in the church, have loads of personal charisma and gobs of professional competence, but they bomb because they lack something far more important: a good heart. The good heart of a good leader doesn’t necessarily mean personal magnetism or off-the-charts job knowledge, but it does mean credibility and conviction. As Cavett Roberts said, “If a leader’s people understand him, he’ll get their attention. If they trust him, he’ll get their action.” You see, it is moral fiber that really counts in leadership that is worth following. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said:

Every great organization is lengthened by the shadow of a single person.

The quality and character of the leader determine the quality and character of the organization. May God give us intelligent, sensible leaders who will lengthen and deepen the organizations that make up the fabric of our great nation! How we need men and women — in Washington, DC and on Wall Street, in the academy and in the church, and especially in our homes — whose character enriches and strengthens those whom they lead!

Now here is the deal: Take Emerson’s words and combine them with the words of Proverbs 28:2, then apply them to anywhere you are involved: your family, your business, your school, your church, or your local government. If you have any influence in those areas at all—and I suspect you have more influence than you realize—then those people and that organization will be strengthened, lengthened, and deepened if you will exert intelligent, sensible, good, and godly leadership.

I hope you will. The corner of the world that God has assigned to you desperately needs it. Ralph Waldo Emerson also said,

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Consider that quote in terms of the area or areas where you have influence. In those areas, God is likely calling you to be a trailblazer for the people you lead.

Take A Moment: In your corner of the world where God has given you influence, large or small, ask God to help you to be a leader of wise and godly character. And while you are at it, ask him to give you influence, even if it seems in a small way.

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The Sun Will Come Out, Tomorrow!

With God, Tomorrow Is Always A New Day

Synopsis: Who knows what tomorrow will hold? Only God! That’s why we need to fiercely cling to him on this day, expressing our utter dependence on his purposes being fulfilled in our lives and recognizing his sovereign control over each second of our existence. King David understood that people who live under the daily threat of death like he did will grasp that reality better than those of us who live relatively safe, carefree, and easy lives. We tend to slide into the false notion that a pain-free, worry-free, tragedy-free life is our divine right. Not David! He got it right when he wrote “Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16) David knew and trusted what we need to learn and trust: God is in control of my life. When you know that, you’ll confidently sing, “The sun will come out tomorrow!”

The Sun Will Come Out, Tomorrow

Moments With God // Proverbs 27:1

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Just ask any family whose lives were displayed on the late-night news last evening—whose peace and tranquility was unexpectedly interrupted by some sort of disaster: a car accident coming home from work, a random act of violence outside the restaurant, a massive layoff at the company that no one saw coming, the sudden bacterial infection resistant to all known forms of medication that attacked their child without warning. None of them got up that morning expecting anything close to that would happen during the day that lay ahead.

Who knows what tomorrow will hold? Only God! That’s why we need to fiercely lean into him for this day, expressing our utter dependence on his good purposes being fulfilled in our lives and recognizing his sovereign control over each second of our existence. The Psalmist David understood that people who live under the daily threat of death like he did tend to get that reality better than those of us who live relatively safe, carefree, and easy lives. We tend to slide into the false notion that a pain-free, worry-free, tragedy-free life is our divine right.

Not David! He got it right when he wrote in Psalm 139:16,

Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Only God knows how many days you have, and what will happen in each of those days. Only he knows the exact number of your days, and you will not live a day longer, nor die a day sooner than what he already has planned for you. That is why it is not wise to get too far ahead of God in your thoughts about tomorrow. Now, obviously, this is not about wise planning and preparation. That is certainly taught throughout the Bible, and a great deal of emphasis is placed on that right here in the book of Proverbs.

What Solomon is calling for is living with an attitude of gratitude for each and every breath we take, expressing humble dependence on the Almighty for each and every second of our existence, and submitting each and every ounce of our energy today, and if he graciously gives us tomorrow, to be used for his good purposes.

When we live that way, we can sing with confidence, “The sun will come out tomorrow.” Maybe that will mean the blazing sunshine of yet another day here on Planet Earth, but if not, the joy of unending days where there is no need for the sun, since the indescribable glory of his shining presence of God himself will render our current source of light and heat meaningless.

So, as scary as that might seem, take courage, because as a Christ-follower, the sun will come out tomorrow.

Read and meditate on Psalm 90, and memorize verse 12: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Then early and often, quote it to yourself and others!

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Get With It!

Just Do It Already

Synopsis: Proverbs reminds us that motivation is a holy thing; it is a state of being that will energize you to do the hard—but right—thing. And, as we see throughout Proverbs, the Lord highly values and honors it. One of my favorite motivational gurus, the late Zig Ziglar, said, “Motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.” I agree: Just do it already! And Walt Disney gave us some free advice that we would do will to apply to our own lives: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” So, what is one area in your life in which you would need up your motivation game? Identify it, and my friend, just get after it! Again, quit talking and do it already!

Get With It

Moments With God // Proverbs 26:13-15

Loafers say, “It’s dangerous out there! Tigers are prowling the streets!” and then pull the covers back over their heads. Just as a door turns on its hinges, so a lazybones turns back over in bed. A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie, but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth.

Motivation! It is one of the major themes in Proverbs—praising those who have it and admonishing those who do not. Proverbs does not offer an intricate explanation for why people are not motivated, or a detailed plan for how they can get motivated. It just says they need to build a fire in their life and get with it.

Speaking of motivation, I love the story of the guy who worked the swing shift in a factory, and every night when he walked home from work after dark, he would go a great distance out of the way just to avoid a cemetery that was smack dab in the middle of his route. One night, wanting to save some time, he worked up the courage to walk through the graveyard>. Well, lo and behold, it wasn’t so bad after all! So, he started walking right through the cemetery every day, to and from work.

However, on one of his walks home, a fresh grave had been dug right in the path he now walked by habit, and he fell into a deep, dark, damp open grave. For some time he scratched and clawed trying to climb out called—to no avail—so he then started calling out for help, but it became apparent that he was going to get neither help nor out of his tomb. So, he sank down into the bottom of this pit, pulled his coat up around his ears and prepared for a long night until the grave diggers came the next morning and could help him out.

After some time had passed, another man came down the same path, and he too, fell into the open grave. The first guy just sat there with a smile on his face watching this second guy, who was so preoccupied with getting out that he didn’t notice the first guy.

After a while, the second guy grew tired and he, too, gave up his clawing and scratching and yelling and sank down into the bottom of the grave. At that point, the first guy said, “You’ll never get out of here, boy!” Guess what? On hearing that eerie, disembodied voice from the other end of the grave, the second guy did! The disembodied voice from the grave was all the motivation he needed—and he was out in about two ticks.

Proverbs reminds us that motivation is a holy thing; it is a state of being that will energize you to do the hard—but right—thing. And, as we see throughout Proverbs, the Lord highly values and honors it. Consider these verses from this book of practical wisdom:

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Prov 13:4)

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Prov 14:23)

The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. (Prov 15:19)

Speaking of motivation, one of my favorite motivational gurus, the late Zig Ziglar, said, “Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.” I agree: Just do it already! And Walt Disney gave us some free advice that we would do will to apply to our own lives: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

So, quit talking and do it already!

Now if you are a committed Christ-follower, and if you are motivated, God has promised honor to you. If you are not, however, then you will get no psychological explanation or motivational pep talk from the Bible—only a swift kick to the seat of the pants and a warning: Get with it or get left in the dust of those in life who are motivated.

So, get with it already! God stands ready to bless you!

What is one area in your life in which you would need up your motivation game? Identify it, and my friend, just get after it!

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The Perfect Reflection Of Christ In Me

It Takes Fire To Burn Away Impurities

Synopsis: The prophet Malachi likened God to a refiner of silver. How comforting to know that God will never leave you in your furnace of affliction too long, but neither will he remove you from the fire too soon. You see, the Great Refiner knows just the right amount of time and heat you will need to endure in your furnace of affliction—your trials and tribulations—to burn out the dross and bring forth the reflection of his Son’s image in you. So, in light of that, here is your one assignment this week when you’re facing hardship: “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials.” (Jas 1:2)

Refiner's Fire

Moments With God // Proverbs 25:4

Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith.

A few years ago a guest pastor was preaching at our church, and he shared one of the most compelling testimonies I’d ever heard of how God had used unusual hardship throughout his life to bring him to his current place of tremendous kingdom usefulness. He likened his experience to being put through a refiner’s fire, and since most of us had no real experience with the actual refining of precious metals, he shared these insightful and inspiring words about the process:

When a silversmith purifies silver, he never takes his eyes off the furnace, because the silver will be injured if the fire gets too hot, even to the slightest degree, or if it stays too long. But if he takes the silver out too early, it won’t be purified. So when the silver is in the fire, the smith stays totally focused so that nothing distracts him. He carefully watches the silver, waiting for the right moment to take it out. And how does he know when it is just the right moment? He knows the silver is pure when he can see his face reflected in it.

The Old Testament prophet Malachi likened God to a refiner of silver. How comforting to know that he will never leave us in our furnace of affliction too long, but neither will he remove us from the refiner’s fire too soon. You see, the Great Refiner knows just the right amount of time and heat we will need to endure in our furnace of affliction—our trials and tribulations—to burn out the dross and bring forth the reflection of his Son’s image in us.

I want to give you just one assignment this week for the challenges and hardships you will face. It comes from James 1:2-4, and it is simply this:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

“Consider it pure joy!” Now James was not talking about putting on a smiley face or finding the happy place or faking it ‘til you make it in the midst of your challenges. Those kinds of responses to hardship probably indicate that you have slipped into denial. When James says to “consider,” he means to take a deliberate look at the weird, disappointing and painful stuff that happens to you and intentionally rejoice because you know that God is at work!

You see, God has promised to use your problems, among other things, and best of all, to sanctify your character. He will use whatever is trying you as fuel for the refiner’s fire to burn out everything in you that doesn’t look like Jesus. That’s why James writes that in your trials, “the testing of your faith produces perseverance that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

So rejoice, my friend, even when it hurts—God is simply completing you! He will not let the heat get too hot nor will he leave you in it too long lest you get permanently injured. But neither will he take you out too soon. No, even right now, his watchful eye is trained on you, looking for that perfect moment when he sees the reflection of Jesus.

Reflect on Romans 8:28-29 each day this week: “We know that all things work together for good if we love God and are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow he did predestine to become conformed to the image of the Son of God.” Now, in each of your trials this week, make the connection: Why does God work all things together for good? The answer: to make you like Christ!