A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (November 8, 2018)
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. (Proverbs 12:4)
We recently published a devotional entitled “Man to Man (about women)” which dealt mainly with how men, and especially husbands, should be treating their wives. I would encourage each of you to read that devotional. It does challenge some of the old teachings of the church, and I realize that, but maybe they need to be challenged. I was reminded during this current election cycle that women have only had the right to vote since 1920. It took a long time to break down that way of thinking.
Now, what we promote at New Life Network for husbands and wives is unity with God and unity and respect for each other. We think that is God’s plan for marriage and for years certain scriptures have been taken out of context which have weakened what God intended to be a powerful one-flesh relationship.
Today, we want to flip the coin and look at how women are to treat and speak to their husbands. Marriage is a two-way street and we both have responsibilities in this union. My wife and I have taught many marriage seminars and our scripture for the day is just one of the scriptures we have used to address healthy relationships. Many scriptures are written in such a manner that you can read them with your intellect and carnal mind and get one meaning, but if you read them in the Spirit you will get an entirely different meaning. Let’s look at this Proverbs 12:4 scripture very closely.
When you read that a virtuous woman is to be a crown to her husband, what do you hear? If you read it from a male dominant, religious, or intellectual perspective, you will probably interpret this to mean that the woman should look good and make the man look good. In other words, she is a mere ornament on display. But, if you read this same scripture from a Spirit, one-flesh, unity, team approach perspective, you get an entirely different meaning. Let me explain.
One of man’s deepest needs is to be encouraged and built up, regardless of how macho he might seem. The man is continually being assaulted by the enemy with thoughts that he is not good enough. He is not a good enough father. He is not a good enough provider. He is not a good enough lover. And the list goes on and on. A woman that is operating in the Spirit will recognize this need for her husband and will constantly be looking for ways to encourage and build up her husband’s self-esteem.
Now, let’s look at this same scripture from the perspective of encouraging and building up. When it says a virtuous woman is to be a crown to her husband, what do you hear now? What I hear is that one of the roles of a wife is to make her husband feel like a king. Her job is not to agree with the enemy and make him feel ashamed. That is the difference of reading this scripture in the Spirit and reading it in the flesh.
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:1-3)
