by David Chadwick

"An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels." Proverbs 31:10

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Let's wrap up our week by looking at two verses from Proverbs 31 that describe a godly wife. As you may know, Proverbs 31 is an entire chapter dedicated to describing a godly woman, or as the Jewish culture describes, "a woman of valor."

What makes an excellent wife? She is a true woman of valor. Her heart is for you, and her life's allegiance is to Jesus. She loves Jesus with all her heart, soul, mind, and might. She desires a biblical, Christ-centered marriage–one that lasts forever with the back door locked from the outside.

For you men, this kind of wife is FAR more precious than jewels. She chooses to love all the days of her life. This is a woman who is far more valuable than your financial portfolio. Yes, even if you have millions of dollars in it!

Again, yes, an excellent wife IS hard to find. But don't give up. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). Keep searching for her. Keep praying for her. And when she is found, don't ever let her go!

As you watch and wait, also realize that a woman may possess great charm, winsomeness, and beauty, but this is NOT the foundation upon which you build a long-term, Christlike marriage.

Outward beauty fails and eventually fades away. As my dad once told me, "Son, marry a woman with beautiful insides more than beautiful outsides." He knew that outward beauty, outward "stuff," fades. But inward beauty will never fade. Indeed, it will only grow and grow!

I'm fortunate to have married a beautiful woman inside and out. But it's her inward beauty that I value most. And that beauty has only grown and grown through the years. This is what all men who follow Jesus should find most attractive.

Picture yourself still holding hands with your spouse and with Jesus after decades of Jesus's grace and love filling your hearts. It's an eternal legacy every follower of Jesus should desire!