The Heart Of Godly Women |
Gen. 3:6: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Recently, I had the honor of attending a friend’s funeral. I say honor because I was honored by her living example, and in death she was made whole. Her cancer released her and she joined our Lord in Glory. She was an older woman whom I have known for 25 years. She and her husband were instrumental in seeing me through some pre-divorce years and remained close friend after that. They had come into my life upon my desperate request for marital counsel for my husband and I. Since then, my ex husband chose to follow his own path in life, which included infidelity, and abandoned my children and I. I am, however, forever thankful for that year and a half of counsel, and for their example. I have since then remarried and realize now that those months of counsel, and again- their example, were preparing me for my marriage now, and for my own example before my sons and daughters. As I listened to the words of those who spoke of this dear lady, the meaning of Proverbs 31 came together in one, delicately molded package. My memory stimulated my own consequential times with her. I can also compare this woman to my sweet grandmother. And, since my father died when I was very young, marriage was not played out in any form in the home. So I did not have that foundation in my first marriage. Being a christian, I had the heart and desire, but not the knowledge. I wanted that type of relationship, but was never given the tools to accomplish that until later on. And so, with these precious examples before me, I would like to share with you what I have come to know as the godly woman especially as it pertains to our marriage relationship. My friend was married to her husband for 38 years. Her husband is a pastor, family counselor, and basketball coach, among other things. He will be the first to tell you that he has learned so much from his recently deceased wife. He was a hard man when they first married. It was her undaunted commitment to God to be the Proverbs woman that turned him into a gentle giant. But her commitment was to God first and foremost. Her husband’s undying love was the icing on the cake, and I would go so far as to say that their love can rarely be compared. No matter what came to them, what decisions he made for their family, she was right there, by his side, supporting his every thought. Even when others may have thought his idea was.....um.....obtuse, she supported him 100%. There were many moves through the years as he attempted to gain some financial control by working his way up. Though she never said it, I always suspected that she just wanted to be settled. But following after him where ever he went, for what ever reason, she never lost her vision of Proverbs 31. Always with a smile and an encouraging word for him, her children, and anyone God brought her way, she shined for Jesus. Her reward was in pleasing Jesus, but the bounty was the love of her man that can rarely be fathomed. After-all, how can you not love a person so devoted to you? Prov.31 10: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11: The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12: She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13: She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14: She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15: She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16: She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17: She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18: She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19: She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20: She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21: She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22: She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23: Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24: She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25: Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26: She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27: She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29: Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31: Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. The Proverbs Woman
But for a woman who does not have a Christian husband, here is the second example. My grandmother marrying her husband in the 1920s married a man who was not a Christian, even though she was. She, like many women, thought that she might change him. But her commitment was just as solid as the pre-mentioned example. She loved and served him no matter what. And, my grandfather was a hard person to love at times in terms of a husband. By the time I had come along some 20+ years later, he had gone through some changes, though never saved. Her life of service in the home and for him was much the same. She brought him honor in everything she did. She supported him in all things, and where ever he went, she went too. {Both ladies did odd jobs such as house keeping and ironing to help out financially that did not take too much of their time away from home.} But while she was serving in this role so faithfully, first and foremost, she was honoring her commitment to God. In doing so she was a testimony before many people. Together they had seven girls and many, many grandchildren. The majority of whom grew to love the Lord. I know that in my own life, it was her testimony of joyful servitude that won my heart to Jesus. As a small child I did not have a “label” for it, but I saw Jesus in her. She always had an encouraging word for those around her. Even though our lives’ {my life} were filled with many people through the years, it was her in her sweet, gentle, soft spoken, kind demeanor that made the greatest impact. It is part of God’s perfect design for marriage, like a hand in glove. When she is doing her part, she enables him to do his part. Have you ever observed a man after the infatuation stage of love has passed and the love of his life is making angry or unrealistic demands? Or it might come to him from her in a manipulative form. There is a hidden mechanism that drives a man to avoid conflict and resolve tension immediately, at any cost. I can only compare it to a cat thrown in the water. He wants out and he wants out now! There is no thinking it through, no prayerful contemplation. He just wants to get out of it a.s.a.p. He is driven to appease that woman and let the tension pass. He doesn’t think of the sacrifice he making of his true manhood and godly calling. Most women, if they were to be honest, have used it at some time during years of immaturity. The only problem with this process is that it leads to emotional detachment. He will drift away emotionally as he is inched out of his role as the husband. It creates a gap between them. Neither will be truly happy in the marriage because they are not following God’s design for marriage. If you are contemplating marriage or are newly married, guard youself from this trap. You will find that it will get you what you want in terms of the immediate situation, but the lasting effects are devastating to both of you... So we ladies have an important role. We are the tent poles that support the tent {our husband}.Without those tent poles supporting him, he can not surround our home, sheltering it, providing for it, and doing all that is right for it. Without tent poles the tent lies flat on the ground. If you are a Christian wife today, look at what God’s wants from you.....
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The Servant Jesus came to us to serve and there is no higher calling than that of servitude. A Godly woman serving a godly man is treated like a queen even if it takes time. Even an un-godly man seeing this consistent, confident woman will treat her like a precious jewel in many cases. But even when the man does not treat his wife as the jewel she is, she is called to serve in that capacity because she is called by God. |
The Doormat Jesus was not a doormat. He came with a purpose. He was sacrificed for our sins, but loved no less. A woman’s call to servitude does not mean she is to be abused, or mal-treated in any way. In contrast to the life of a doormat, the life of servitude is honorable. There is no greater joy than serving in God’s kingdom..... |
God's calling for those special men in our life.
