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Favor With God And Man
by Dick Mills
"And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man" (Prov. 3:4 NKJ).
Coming from a legalistic church background, I can well remember the "either-or" decision that was put to us as believers. The idea seemed to be: "If God loves you, man will hate you. If man loves you. God will hate you."
That is a tough choice for a teenage boy to have to make. Especially if that teenager is struggling with self-acceptance, as I was.
There are four verses that tell us we can win God's favor and man's goodwill simultaneously. They are: 1 Samuel 2:26, Proverbs 3:4, Luke 2:52, and Romans 14:18. John Calvin claimed a principle could be established as doctrine if three verses could be found to agree with it. With four verses in agreement that we can have favor with God and man, we are one over the required minimal limit for doctrinal substantiation.
The Hebrew word translated favor in this verse is chen (khane). It refers to a graciousness that will bend or stoop down to grant a kindness or show favor to anyone who petitions for help. God favors us by granting our petitions. Every time He answers a prayer for us. He shows us favor.
Having favor with men means they will trust us when by nature they usually trust no one. It means they will open up to us when by inclination they seldom confide in anybody. It means they will believe in us even though they find it almost impossible to have confidence in any other human being.
Favor with God and man means having God's approval and man's trust. That is a blessing to be desired!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
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