Proverbs 18:22: He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.
Insight
He who finds a wife finds a good thing: Finds should not be translated by a word that gives the impression that the wife has been lost. Finds here means to “meet and marry.” In some languages it is necessary to say, for example, “The man who marries a woman.…” The text does not actually say that the wife is good, but “a good wife” is probably intended. In some social situations it is advisable to translate “a good wife” or “a good woman.” A good thing is a translation of the Hebrew term “good.” The sense is, as we see in the second line, that God has given the man good fortune; and so we may translate, for example, “If you find a good wife, you have been given good fortune” or “… you are fortunate.” And obtains favor from the Lord: It does not mean that the man will then be able to obtain favor from God. Rather it means that by finding or marrying a good woman he has already been favored by the Lord. 1
Application
Ephesians 5:25 gives every husband all the application he needs for a lifetime: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”
Husbands, how well are you doing at following this command to love? Wives, how well are you doing at following His command to respect your husband, whether you think he deserves it or not?
Motivation
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband. Proverbs 12:4
A wife has the capacity to make or break her husband. – TWEET IT
Prayer
Father, thank You for using my wife to teach me about unconditional love.
1. Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs. New York: United Bible Societies.
