Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. 18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. (NIV)
There are so many reasons to love God: His unconditional love and enduring patience with us, His merciful and longsuffering character, His willingness to do what is best for us even when we are not close to deserving anything good from Him, His sacrificial nature toward us that transcends any logic or reason, and His giving heart that provides so much for us despite our sinful lives that warrant repossession not replenishment or restoration.
God’s love is amazing and cannot be matched by anything in the universe, but in this passage there is something greater at work. It is made clear that while God loves us all, as is evidenced by John 3:16, God makes a statement in vs.17 that is wonderful to the believer. God says that “I love those who love me” this means that while He loves us all that He declares a special love toward those that love Him.God’s unconditional love is for the entire world but this love in vs.17-21 is for those who love Him. Everyone does not love God; let us make sure that we pray for them, but those who do are promised many blessings for loving Him. God tells us that not only will He love them but those who seek Him will find Him. This is such an awesome promise because too often people get frustrated with not know where God is in a situation or what God has to say about it, but He promises that He will not be absent that He will be found by those who seek Him. Then God lets us all know that with Him there is no lack, but not only that there is “riches, and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity” this means that God will never run out of resources to bless us with for they are enduring (long-lasting).
Remember that when you love God He is your source and He promises to utilize His unlimited resources to bless your life. In vs. 19 God lets us know that His fruit, which is His exhibition of His love, is better than the most valuable earthly resources. The fruit of God is all of the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 and the sacrifice that it took for us to partake in it. Whatever God produces is worth far more than any earthly substance. One of the main benefits to loving God in this passage is found in verses 20 and 21. God is righteous and just and He bestows wealth on those who love Him and HE makes their treasuries full. God makes it clear that righteousness and justice moves Him even closer to those who love Him to bestow wealth upon them, now this wealth is more valuable than our definition of wealth for it holds not just financial wealth but also the wealth of wisdom, power, health, knowledge, understanding, faith, and love.
God’s blessings are multiple-fold and His wealth is not bound by human definition. He promises to keep their treasuries full for those who love Him. One can have no lack with a full treasury. God’s promises are real and true and all that we have to do to tap into the promises of this passage of scripture is to sincerely and truly love Him not with lip-service but with our whole heart. Real love is not based in what we can get from Him but simply because we do love Him and that is when He will bestow upon us all of these wonderful blessings.
Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and He will show an even greater love for you and He will do it with action.
There are so many reasons to love God: His unconditional love and enduring patience with us, His merciful and longsuffering character, His willingness to do what is best for us even when we are not close to deserving anything good from Him, His sacrificial nature toward us that transcends any logic or reason, and His giving heart that provides so much for us despite our sinful lives that warrant repossession not replenishment or restoration.