READING: Proverbs 19-21
My wife Pam and I have been married for 25 years. She is an incredibly loving, kind, patient woman who loves the Lord, His people, and me. In all the years we’ve been together, we’ve never had a fight. Sure, we’ve had some hard discussions, and Pam very much wants to make sure we deal with any possible conflict as soon as it develops — but she’s not a quarreler. I’ve never heard her raise her voice, say a cuss word, or push back simply to defend her position.
In contrast, the writer of Proverbs knew that an argumentative wife could be trouble: “a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof” (Prov 19:13). That is, she is continually problematic, and in the end her constant quarreling leads to the destruction of the home. Argument by argument, the foundation of the home is torn apart. In fact, the Proverbs writer said that it’s better for a man to live “on a corner of the roof” (Prov 21:9) or in desert (Prov 21:19) than to live with such a woman. Apparently, it’s better to be exposed to the elements while living on the outside than it is to live inside the house with an argumentative woman.
It shouldn’t surprise us, then, that Proverbs verifies that “a prudent wife is from the Lord” (Prov 19:14). We who have sweet, gentle wives must recognize that they didn’t just appear in our life and fall in love with us accidentally. Instead, God gave us our spouse. Even when two matchmakers were involved in the beginning (for example, Pam and I were "fixed up" by two church secretaries), we fully recognize that we get to walk together only because the Lord wanted us to be together. I thank Him today for the wife He gave me.
ACTION STEPS:
- Tell your spouse how you feel about her. Show sacrificial love to your spouse in a special way today.
- If you’re a parent or grandparent of a teenager, be sure to talk with him or her about genuine love and healthy relationships.
PRAYER: “Father, You’re an amazing God. You give us the gift of people, so help me to love and serve them the best way I can.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Proverbs 22-23