Steadfast Love

For Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Proverbs 19:22

What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.

It is better to have a poor friend who shows steadfast love through all circumstances than to have wealthy friends who are false. It is better to be a person who shows such love than to attain wealth and friends through deception. Money cannot compare in value to friendship, and friendship is only as valuable as the steadfast love that bonds it.

But understand that what matters is what God desires to see in a person. It is God who desires to see steadfast love. He could care less for the wealth a person has; he values highly for the love a person possesses. He detests a liar. Offer to God your wealth; but that wealth should spring out of your steadfast love.

And understand that God values what he possesses. He values steadfast love for he supremely holds such a trait.

"The steadfast love of God endures all the day" (Psalm 52:1)

"Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good" (Psalm 69:16).

"It is good...to declare your steadfast love in the morning" (Psalm 92:2).

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 106:1).

And how has his supremely demonstrated such love? "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).