Hey everybody, and welcome back to the Set Your Mind Above Podcast! I’m your host BJ Sipe – I’m a Christian, a preacher, a husband, and a father. In this podcast we take everyday, ordinary events and explore how they can teach us extraordinary, eternal truths. I’m so glad that you joined me for this episode. Now, let’s open up our minds, our hearts, and our Bible’s together.
Sorry that we didn’t have a podcast drop yesterday, I ended up taking the entire day off because yesterday was a special day in our household, because it just so happened to be my wife Kylie’s 27th birthday. I’ll say this much, having a birthday is 10 times more special when you have young kids to celebrate it with. It’s was a wonderful day. As I said I took the day off to spend time with Kylie and the kids, which I had been looking forward to all week. Ava was the first one up, so I got up with her and we let mommy sleep in. As she did, we were busy in the kitchen getting things ready. We put coffee on, made special birthday muffins & breakfast, and after Dane got up we colored some pictures and signed a card for her as well. It was so sweet to watch the kids sing happy birthday to their mom with candle that read “3” shoved into the top of a muffin (the number 3 was all we had, so we told her just to multiply it by 9). As Kylie played with the kids I ran outside to shovel the driveway of the fresh layer of snow and ice we got overnight so that later in the evening her and I would be able to make it out for a date night for her birthday. It was such a wonderful time to be able to get out just the two of us and enjoy time together. As I sat across from my wife last night, I reflected on how blessed I am to have married a woman such as this. I know that this podcast is going to come off super sappy and personal, so if you don’t want to hear me go on and on about my wife for the next few minutes feel free to find another episode or skip ahead a few minutes, but here it goes. I have never met another woman like my wife, and I mean that to my very core. While yesterday we celebrated her birthday, in actually she is worthy of our praise each and every day. First and foremost, she loves the Lord. Her faith is so evident in the way that she carries herself and the choices she makes day in and day out. It’s evident by the way she prays, the way she is dedicated to reading the Word, the way she teaches our children, and the way she has committed herself to him even in the hardest of times. Her love for the Lord has also led her to develop a deep love for others. She is constantly serving others, both friends and strangers alike. I can’t tell you how many times my wife has dropped everything to sit with someone in need, how she’s even been willing to fly across the country on multiple occasions when she could serve someone. She gives liberally to anyone who asks. She is always willing to open up our home to others, even for extended periods. In addition to this, she is the most faithful and dedicated wife. Our marriage has seen some challenging times, but through it all she has stood tall by my side. She respects, comforts, and loves me beyond measure. She has been willing to sacrifice so much and follow me down so many different roads. Our spectacular marriage is in large part due to the kind of woman she is. Finally, I don’t have enough words to talk about the amazing mother she has become. I hope that our children will grow to understand just how incredible their mother really is. She lives for our children, and never puts her needs before their own. I can guarantee that my wife works ten times harder caring for our children and our home than I think I ever have doing anything in my life. I know she’s probably going to be embarrassed as she reads or listens to this later, but I hope that she knows that I mean ever single word that I have said. To quote the great Lou Gehrig, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
Why did I just blab on for the past few minutes about my wife here on this podcast? I am certain that as I have been speaking and you have been listening, there are many of you who are also married out there who feel the exact same way about your spouse. And you know what, you should. When we open up the Scriptures, one of the most wonderful reminders that has been given to us about the way that we honor and value our spouse is recorded in Proverbs 31. For now, let’s just look at verses 10-12, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” While in the context this is a description of an excellent wife, much like my own, I believe that this can apply to both husband and wife in principle. Do we realize what a treasure a husband or wife of integrity, character, and love truly is? Here the Proverb writer says that such a relationship, one that is built on mutual trust in one another, is far more precious and valuable than even the most rare and priceless jewels on this earth. In fact, Solomon puts it in this way earlier in Proverbs 12:4, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” Having a godly, loving, and selfless person beside you is a life changer in the best possible way. Such a relationship is like your crown, something you display proudly for all to see. Sadly, binding yourself to someone who does not have such character is also a life changer, but in a very difficult way. A godless, worldly and selfish person brings shame to a marriage, and rather than bringing great trust and joy to your life will bring great pain and suffering. That is why it is so important that you take very seriously who you marry, and that together you both work diligently on striving to become more like Christ. While my wife is not just beautiful on the inside but also on the outside, beauty and appearances mean next to nothing in the long run. Proverbs 31 would go on to say in vv. 30, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Sadly, we live in a world that values and honors all of the wrong things. So many people are merely looking for “someone better” to come along, and they quickly jump ship from one relationship to another. Ironically, to top it all off, the standard for what such a one defines as “better” often has nothing to do with anything of real value or worth and is usually based on appearances. In doing so, the miss the beauty and the blessing of God’s design for marriage. To those of you who are married, let me say this: do not undervalue your spouse. You have been given a wonderful partner, your closest friend, and someone to love & support you not only when you are at your best, but when you are at your worst. Marriage is by God’s design, and we must never take our spouse for granted. To those of you who are not yet married, make sure that you know who you are committing yourself to. No amount of money or good looks can supplement what a selfless, godly, trustworthy person brings to a marriage. Look for someone that exemplifies Christ and will help to bring you closer to him, just as you hope to be that for someone else. When all is said and done, here is the point – marriage is one of the greatest blessings given to us by God, when we value what he values. Don’t take your spouse for granted, but instead love them, serve them, and praise them day in and day out.
Thank you for tuning in to today’s episode, and I would invite you back Tuesdays-Fridays for a brand-new episode each day. If you haven’t already, be sure to find us on Facebook for occasional announcements and special video sessions. If you have benefited from this podcast, please if you’re able be sure to share it with someone else that you think could benefit from it as well. Until next time, know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each & every day set our minds above.