Favorites Receive Favor

It usually is unwise to have a favorite child or grandchild. But it is always wise to show favor to each of them. Favor can mean positive consideration, permission, partiality, or assistance. In that regard, each of our children and grandchildren are favored.

Proverbs About Valuable Favor

There are times when something should be a favorite. You should choose a good name over wealth. Many do not. They prefer the wealth and are willing to have a bad reputation. Choosing a “good name” implies that you are a trusted, loving, kind-hearted, and generous person even when it costs you financially.

Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”

In our society it is often viewed as impolite or politically incorrect to rebuke someone. However, a wise, loving rebuke is of more lasting value than complacent flattery.

Proverbs 28:23 “Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.”

A Popular Proverb is Proverbs 3:5-6

This proverb is often quoted: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” What is neglected are the verses that come before this command that focus on having steadfast love and faithfulness.

Proverbs 3:1-7 says, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”

If you want to find favor and success in the sight of God and others, focus on the things that bring favor. Be a person of love that is dependable. Be faithful in the small and the big things of life.

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

A follower of Jesus is focused on what pleases the Lord even if it is at the expense of pleasing others.

Ephesians 6:5-8 “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.”

Psalm 84:11 “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.