Daily Devotionals

Are We There Yet? Week 3 Friday

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Proverbs 3:3-4

Yesterday in our Bible study together, we talked about the importance of knowing whom we are looking for to spend our lives with and teaching this practice to the children in our lives as well. This is only one part of the conversation, however. You see, not only is it important for followers of Christ to know who we want to spend the rest of their lives with, but it is also of utmost importance that we make every effort to take on those characteristics as well and teach this importance to our children. 

Think back for a moment, if you are married, about what kind of person you were looking for while you were dating. If you are single, think about the attributes and characteristics you are looking for in a person to spend your life with. I have a feeling that you have had high expectations for that person. The question is, however, do we have those same standards and expectations for ourselves? If we want the person we are looking to spend our lives with, or the person we have committed to spend our lives with, to meet those standards and expectations we have, we have to emulate those characteristics and standards ourselves. We must teach the children in our lives this as well. We must teach them to work toward being the person who they themselves are looking to spend their lives with. 

Proverbs three is an excellent chapter when considering character and what type of person a follower of Christ is to strive to become. In this chapter, the writer of Proverbs says, “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation” (verses 3-4). I love these verses because they so beautifully summarize what a follower of Christ is to strive after. The first characteristic is loyalty. This is a loyalty to God and His word. It is loyalty to the Christian faith. You and I are to be men and women of great loyalty to our faith in Christ and His word. The second characteristic is kindness. It seems that kindness is becoming less and less of a virtue in our world, but it is also one of the most needed attributes today. This means treating every single person with the love of Christ, with no exceptions. 

When talking to the children in our lives about dating and marriage, we must teach them the importance of working to honor God in the same way that they hope the person they will spend the rest of their lives with will live and honor God. After all, the person they hope to spend their lives with is probably looking to find someone with those characteristics as well. 

It is time that we live out the same characteristics and standards that we are looking for other people to carry out and that we teach our children to do the same. In a world where hateful words are so quickly offered, and dissension is everywhere, let us make kindness and loyalty the characteristics that define our lives. 

Moving Toward Action

Take some time to consider the most important characteristics you would like to see emulated in a spouse, whether you are married or single. Do you have those same characteristics? What changes can you make in your life, if there are any changes that need to be made? Make every effort to model these characteristics for the children in your life and show them the importance of modeling the very characteristics that are the most important to them as they think about dating, marriage, and who they want to spend their lives with.

Going Deeper

Read Proverbs 3:1-35 (NLT)

My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
    Store my commands in your heart.
If you do this, you will live many years,
    and your life will be satisfying.
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
    Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
    Write them deep within your heart.
Then you will find favor with both God and people,
    and you will earn a good reputation.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
    Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body
    and strength for your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the best part of everything you produce.
Then he will fill your barns with grain,
    and your vats will overflow with good wine.

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
    just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
    the one who gains understanding.
For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
    and her wages are better than gold.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
She offers you long life in her right hand,
    and riches and honor in her left.
She will guide you down delightful paths;
    all her ways are satisfying.
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    happy are those who hold her tightly.

By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
    by understanding he created the heavens.
By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
    and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
    Hang on to them,
for they will refresh your soul.
    They are like jewels on a necklace.
They keep you safe on your way,
    and your feet will not stumble.
You can go to bed without fear;
    you will lie down and sleep soundly.
You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
    or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
for the Lord is your security.
    He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
    when it’s in your power to help them.
If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
    “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
    for those who live nearby trust you.
Don’t pick a fight without reason,
    when no one has done you harm.

Don’t envy violent people
    or copy their ways.
Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
    but he offers his friendship to the godly.

The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the upright.

The Lord mocks the mockers
    but is gracious to the humble.

The wise inherit honor,
    but fools are put to shame!