Sunday Rewind

We have begun a new series, called "Family Portrait: Wisdom for the Family from the Book of Proverbs". In this series, we're taking a look at some of what God says about our roles within the family, and how, by following God's advice, we can experience stronger family relationships.

We began by looking at four characteristics of wise husbands:

A wise husband trusts the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-8). I know that this sounds like a no brainer, but think about this. To trust the Lord, we have to release control. That's not something most men do well. We like to be in control (take the remote control, for example). Control is what we do. But when it comes right down to it, control is an illusion. We like to think we're in control, but the reality is that we can't even fill out our basketball brackets accurately. So how much control do we really have?

A wise husband pursues prudence (Proverbs 8:1-5). It's easy to think that God's wisdom is some difficult thing to find, the exclusive property of the intelligent, educated, or deep thinker. But that's a lie. Wisdom cries out in a way that is available for anyone who will accept it. And it does so at places where people are on the move; at intersections, off-ramps, doors. The problem is that many of us are so locked into the things we are doing, that we blow right past wisdom and never hear it. Prudence is a $5 word that means a willingness to wait on God. Wait? That's another thing men don't do well. But there is great blessing that comes with waiting on the Lord.

A wise husband manintains his integrity (Proverbs 19:1-2). Integrity isn't something we see very often in our culture. But it is critically important for men who want to experience the family relationships God wants us to enjoy. When we walk away from integrity, we walk into folishness, ruining our lives. Men, we need to guard our integrity with all we are. Our wives should never have to question our integrity. Our children should never have to question our integrity. Our employers should never have to question our integrity. Guard your marriage. Guard your family. Live above reproach. Live a life of integrity.

A wise husband values his wife (Proverbs 18:22). Men, in our wives, we've found a good thing...a gift of God. Do you value her that way? Does she know how valuable she is to you? And don't give me that "I told her when I married her that I love her. When it changes, I'll let her know" garbage! Men, this is a big deal. Outside of our relationship with Christ, our relationship with our wives is the most important relationship of our lives. She is more important than your kids...more important than your career...more important than your hobbiesmore important than your friends...more important than your Mom! Men, let's show our wives that her life is even more important than our own. Don't assume that she knows. Don't make her guess. Show her that in her, you have found a good thing...a gift from God.