Worth of a Good Thing - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
Worthy of a Good Thing
Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Intro: If you found a wife, God said you found a good thing!
Are you worthy of it?
There’s nothing more depressing than seeing a good woman with a deadbeat husband!
If you are not married, one of these days, if God is real good to you, you might be a husband!
If you are going to find a good thing and keep her, you need to get your act together!
There are many things to know, but here are three vitally important things that will help you be worthy of the wife God has given you, or plans to give you.
I. Love Sacrificially
· Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Learning what it means to love like Jesus is crucial.
You have to learn what it means to give of yourself.
Marriage thrives on unconditional love.
It’s not a love that is based on that person’s performance.
Or their looks. (For better or worse; in sickness and in health…)
It is based on a commitment that lasts a lifetime.
It is based on a choice; not emotions or feelings or romantic fantasies.
Love that is required in a marriage is being willing to die for her.
· John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
II. Live Selflessly
This means putting her needs above your own.
Marriage requires learning to ask, “What does she need?” instead of only, “What do I want?”
· 1 Peter 3:7 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
Learn her needs, give her honor, and recognize that how you treat her affects your fellowship with God.
One of the greatest ways you can prepare for marriage is to stop being a spoiled brat!
Let’s be honest – your whole life has been all about you.
Ephesians 5
· 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
· 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
From the time you were born:
· You cried when you got hungry.
· You cried when you got thirsty.
· You cried when you got sleepy.
· You cried when somebody woke you up.
· You cried when you got hurt.
· You even cried when you had gas.
Your whole life for the first years was all about you and people pleasing you.
You demanded full attention and care 24/7.
When you get married, it’s not about you anymore.
There are others that will be depending on you.
Which means you must be dependable.
You must be responsible.
You must understand the tremendous responsibility you are undertaking.
1. You are to be the PROVIDER.
Before God brought Adam a wife, He brought him a place to live and a job.
· Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
God said: Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
· 1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
· 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
This is about laziness – those that WOULD NOT WORK.
This is not talking about genuine financial hardships.
Everybody has faced that – but if you’re struggling because you won’t work, that’s your fault.
· Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
· If you can’t afford to get married, don’t get married!
· If you can’t manage your money, don’t get married!
· If you can’t pay your bills on time, don’t get married!
· If you can’t save money, don’t get married!
· If you can’t resist buying everything you see, don’t get married!
· If you can’t budget your money, don’t get married!
· If you can’t see the traps of debt, don’t get married!
· If you can’t handle working long hours even when you’re tired, don’t get married!
You young men: you’ll be providing for a wife, and eventually, children.
If you blow your entire allowance on energy drinks and chips, you’re a LONG way from marriage!
If you can’t tithe now, you won’t when you get married.
2. You are to be the PROTECTOR.
Satan will be out to destroy your home.
You must learn how to protect yourself and your wife from the fiery darts of the wicked.
· Nehemiah 4:14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
It will be your job to protect them – physically, spiritually.
Keep things out of the house that will hurt your family.
3. You are to be the PRIEST.
You are not only responsible for your spiritual walk with God, your wife’s as well.
You will need to set the spiritual temperature in your home.
· It will be up to you to keep God first and foremost in your home.
· It will be up to you to keep the Word of God preeminent in your home.
· It will be up to you to keep church a priority in your family.
III. Lead Steadfastly
Not up and down; in and out; hot and cold; off and on.
Develop stability and consistency now.
INTERESTING FACT: Joseph showed leadership qualities at 17.
Joseph was a leader in Potiphar’s house, in the prison, and was installed as second in command in the nation BEFORE God gave him a wife and children to lead.
· Be a man that knows how to take a stand.
· Be a man that knows how to stand alone.
· Be a man that knows how to live on principles; not personalities.
· Be a man that knows what the Bible says and does it.
· Be a man that knows how hear the voice of God and obey it.
· Be a man that knows how discern God’s will and follow it.
· Be a man that knows how influence others and be an example.
· Be a man that knows how to do what is right – no matter what.
