Proverbs 18:22, Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
I have often wondered about this verse, and never truly understood it until recently. The truth of it began to dawn on me as I thought about those who spend their lives in sin, yet never seemed to be satisfied. I began to think about sin; how it is one event after another, pleasing the flesh for a while until time, money or energy run out and the event has to be discontinued. Then for the fleshly heart to be happy the same event or something similar has to be repeated: each pleasure only for a season, each having to be paid for in material wealth, bodily health or both. Then I thought about being a Christian, how it does not tax wealth or health but promotes both. I realized this is due to the fact that Christianity is a relationship, not an action. I thought about my marriage and how it illustrates this point. I do quite a bit of travelling so I am often away from my wife through the week. While I may not be able to enjoy her physical presence, the joy she brings is present every day. I think of her and the relationship we share; the sound of her voice on the phone; things that happen through the day that remind me of her and times we’ve shared. All these things bring a joy and peace that last far beyond the brief moment during which they happened. So I conclude that when its boiled down to its simplest element, life is about relationships, not events.
Now let me bring this down to everyday life. Love inside the marriage relationship is the deepest and most satisfying thing that man can enjoy apart from his relationship with Jesus Christ. This is true because marriage is ordained and blessed of God. Two Christians can enjoy this love and trust far more than anyone else. The common love of the Lord Jesus Christ, the commitment to love and serve him demands that we love and serve each other. Over the years God has taught me much about love, commitment and serving others through the example of my wife. I can truly say I have found a good thing and obtained favour of the Lord. Our marriage relationship has also taught me much about the relationship between the Lord and his church and why being a Christian is so fulfilling. I do not go home after each trip out of duty, nor do I desire my wife to accompany on trips just to keep her happy or to do something exciting. I do so because; just having her near, a touch of the hand, a smile, the look in her eyes is all it takes to make life full and worth living.
This same holds true for being a Christian and serving God in the church or community. I visit with folk in the hospital or try to help the needy or bereaved not because I have to but because serving Christ is a joy. The close relationship we share makes doing the things he would do or going where he would go fulfilling. If you are still trying to find happiness and real joy in sinful pleasures let me save you some time and money. Sin holds pleasure but it is always short lived and always costly though it may not be readily apparent. Sin can never bring lasting joy because it is an event that if not repeated leaves life with a void. A relationship with Jesus Christ fills the deepest void and even though separated physically from heaven, the relationship brings joy until we get there. Why not give your heart to Jesus Christ and enjoy a loving relationship with him. You will find in being a Christian the joy, peace and comfort that will never be found anywhere else. Just as I found that God was right about finding a wife you will find He is right about salvation bringing joy unspeakable and full of glory.