July 10 - Proverbs 14:14

A good man will be

satisfied from above.

Proverbs 14:14

^NKJV

 

Did you ever hear the phrase, “Good guys finish last?”

 

Now, “good guys finish last” totally contradicts our Scripture verse today … but doesn’t it seem to work that way sometimes in our upside-down world?

 

Indeed, let me ask it this way … and it’s something I wrestled with occasionally as a young man: Why is it that “good girls” often seem to chase “bad boys”?

 

You know what a “badboy” is, right? The Urban Dictionary defines it like this:

 

·         he's independent and willful;

·         he does what he wants when he wants;

·         he doesn't follow trends, they follow him;

·         he often looks scruffy, but hip;

·         he's not looking for trouble, but there's a sense of danger about him.

·         For these reasons and more, he's irresistible to women.

·         He's a heartbreaker with a five o'clock shadow.

 

One of the reasons that women (and men) have so much frustration in marriage is that we were looking for the wrong things on the front-end of the relationship. For example, being attracted to a heartbreaker may just mean that (after a few moments of “excitement”), your heart will probably (and inevitably) get broken.

 

So … choose wisely on the front-end because Scripture generally prescribes that you stay married on the back end. (For example, “his acting like a jerk” is not an excuse to end a marriage. Only things like “infidelity” – see Matthew 19:9 and I would add “abuse” – are Biblical grounds for divorce.)

 

So what do you look for?

 

Women, I would point you to the Proverbs to find the ideal guy. (And by the way … men, this is who you are called to be!!!) (Note: Tomorrow, we’ll turn this around.)

 

But here is a list of (some) Biblical Attributes of a Good Man and Godly Husband. Check which ones apply to the man in your marriage!

 

__ Is a Listener ^{Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase learning}

__ Is God-Focused and Word-Centered ^{Proverbs 8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to [the Word of the Lord]}

__ Receives Instruction Well ^{Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser}

__ Is Self-Controlled ^{Proverbs 11:12 a man of understanding holds his peace.}

__ Is Merciful ^{Proverbs 11:17 The merciful man does good for his own soul [rather than] troubling his own flesh.}

__ Seeks God’s Favor ^{Proverbs 12:2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord}

__ Has a Long-Term Perspective ^{Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children}

__ Is Satisfied by Things from Above ^{Proverbs 14:14 a good man will be satisfied from above.}

__ Flees from Evil ^{Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears and departs from evil}

__ Honors His Parents ^{Proverbs 15:20 A wise son makes a father glad}

__ Lives Right / Follows God’s Principles ^{Proverbs 15:21 a man of understanding walks uprightly.}

__ Brings Peace ^{Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.}

__ Has a Calm Spirit ^{Proverbs 17:27 a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.}

__ Has a Godly Strength, even in the Face of Challenges ^{Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?}

__ Is a True Friend ^{Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends … sticks closer than a brother.}

__ Is Guided by Integrity ^{Proverbs 20:7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.}

__ Avoids Evil ^{Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself}

__ Can’t be Truly Defeated ^{Proverbs 24:16 a righteous man [will] rise again}

__ Makes Others Better ^{Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.}

__ Is Generally Happy! ^{Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man who is always reverent}

__ Is Blessed ^{Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will abound with blessings}

 

Question: Having checked the list above … (and since we can only change ourselves) … Men, how does this encourage you to grow … and to be blessed? (Greater blessing goes hand-in-hand with greater growth.)

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who increasingly seeks

to follow God’s recommendations

… and therefore, increasingly sees

more fruit, more joy, more blessing

(It’s a God-empowered process …

called “sanctification”)