The Love We All Long For (Proverbs 20:6)
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Proverbs 20:6
"Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?"
I think this verse is fitting given today is Valentine’s Day.
"Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?"
On a day like today, unlike any other, people will be professing and proclaiming their steadfast love. They post it, they announce it, they declare it – but do they actually live it?
And let’s be real – this isn’t just about Valentine’s Day. This is human nature. We like to talk a big game.
There are many today, especially in the context of Christianity, who proclaim love for Jesus without actually having it. We see it all throughout Scripture. Take Jehu, for example. In 2 Kings 10:16, he says, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” Okay. He sounds legit. His love seems for real.
But fast forward just fifteen verses, and what do we find? 2 Kings 10:31, “Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart”.
Jehu proclaimed his love – but his life said otherwise.
And that leads to the question this verse presses on us: ‘A faithful man who can find?’
In today’s world, they’re rare. People talk about faithfulness, but do they walk in it? People say they’ll love you forever, but will they really? People claim commitment, but do they follow through?
Of course we could stop here and say, “Well, that’s the person you should look for in a relationship.” And sure, it’s true – steadfast love and faithfulness are beautiful things to find in another person. But this verse isn’t just about romantic relationships. It’s about something bigger.
Because if we’re being honest, the question “A faithful man—who can find?” doesn’t just describe others. It describes us. It describes everyone. I’m not the faithful man, you’re not the faithful man; there’s only one faithful man, only one man who can profess His love to be steadfast. Someone whose love isn’t just proclaimed but proven. Someone whose steadfast love isn’t performative – it’s perfect. And His name is Jesus.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: you will never fully know how to love others or receive love from others until you first grasp and begin to know the love God has for you.
Jesus is the faithful man. He is the one who fulfills and satisfies the longings for love that everyone has. Only He can do it, and so I point you to Him.
So today, don’t just think about love in terms of romantic relationships – think about it in terms of Jesus.
"Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?"
Jesus is that man.
So what does it look like for you to grow in understanding that man’s love for you?
Let’s pray.
