Proverbs 31:10-12
An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
Here’s the section of scripture that puts most married women on a guilt trip. Who can live up to this and who has time to get all those things done? It’s like that romantic Hollywood movie that has an emotional impact but in contrast makes the reality of your everyday life depressing!
The danger of this passage is when we isolate it from the context of marriage. It is as much a statement of the relationship of this husband and wife as it is about the rich character and integrity of this woman.
“The heart of her husband trusts in her…”
When a wife truly feels loved, honored, and respected, it’s both powerful and freeing. She is not a commodity the husband uses to make himself look good but rather a blessing from God for him to cherish and love. I would suggest she is working as hard as she does more out of gratitude than raw obligation. He fully trusts her and therefore does not relinquish his responsibility but enables her to be all she is designed to be in the sight of God.
There is great power when the love of God in Christ gets hold of the hearts of a husband and wife. There is a growing trust and mutual desire to serve each other. The subliminal message implied here is also, “An excellent husband who can find?” Where, too, are the husbands today who are righteously obsessed with Paul’s message, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…”?