The Proverbs 31 woman’s husband was known in the gates as he set among the elders. Funny... You may wonder what does that have to do with her? Well, you would probably be surprised at how much a wife is looked at when a husband is being considered for a position in a high place. Sitting with the elders in the gates was high positioning back in those days. It’s where business was handled and many political affairs were decided. Though most of us will not have to deal with the public eye when we consider accepting a marriage proposal, we should still understand that we are a reflection of our husband even in the smallest arena. Even family members will take notice to how a woman responds concerning her husband in his presence and when he’s not around. A man’s character, devotion and behavior can easily be seen through his wife. Therefore, everything in her demeanor will be a reflection of him.
One might ask, “Doesn’t then the responsibility rely on the husband’s behavior”? Yes, somewhat, but please consider this: Choosing to reflect the positive about one’s relationship will always be a celebration of light and godly character. A wife can choose to dwell in the rays of good things that the husband reflects to her (no matter how small or few they are) or she can choose to dwell in the darkness of everything that he does wrong. She could ridicule and remind everyone of his human failures or she could focus her attention to what he’s doing right. So then as wives, we have a choice to either magnify his strength or expose his weakness. I’m sure that you have lived long enough to know that men and women surely have both!
Trust me... Choosing to constantly complain about your husband’s infirmity, especially in front of others, will never get you out of those dark places. Not only will he eventually despise you, others will too. Other people certainly take notice of women who seem to magnify their husband’s weaknesses everywhere they go. They understand that these women are looking for some kind of approval or affirmation that they are the "good one". Instead of sympathy, she will get disdain. No man or woman would want to be slandered by their own spouse so most of us have a low tolerance for others that do so. Our spouse should be the very person in our life that decides purposely to reveal our good nature to others while giving us the safety and room to grow and come up higher (Special note: taking his weakness to God in prayer is a much better option).
The Proverbs 31 woman understood her obligation to her husband’s reputation. She chose to reflect his goodness and light so that both of them were accepted by all. Femininity can reflect even the smallest light in masculinity. A woman doesn’t have to (it’s a choice), but doing so would be a very wise and good thing. Log on next week for the continued study of Woman... God's Good Thing.
Loving U Like a Sister,
Regina
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