Characteristics of Marriage (Daily Encouragement)
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain – Proverbs 31:11
Yesterday we started looking at different aspects of marriage with the call for spouses to “enjoy” one another. Today we will look at different characteristics and attitudes we see in Proverbs that are important for a flourishing, life giving marriage. (Tomorrow we will see different ways God uses marriage to bring about his purposes).
Grace – Pr 11:16 – A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. The word for “kindhearted” can be translated “charming” or “beautiful”, but it literally means “gracious”. Christians must “inject” grace into their marriage. Christians are called to forgive everyone, “just as Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Marriage requires the ability to forgive freely without a shred of superiority, and to repent freely without begrudging.
Truth-Telling – Pr 27:5 – Better is open rebuke than hidden love. As friends, spouses must constructively challenge each other in love. Your spouse can see your flaws and sins better than anyone else ever has. You need to hear about them to achieve the self-knowledge available no other way. Together you must learn to do truth telling that builds up, even as Jesus does to us (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:25-27.)
Vulnerability – Pr 31:11 – The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. Your spouse has the power to re-program your self-image. That is because your spouse knows you so intimately. The way to get the inner security and courage for such an intimate relationship is to remember that a Christian’s ultimate confidence and self-worth come from having the Father’s strong love because we are in Christ.
Stamina – Pr. 31:12 – She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. Loving service lasts “all the days of her life”. Marriage is a covenant; it requires lifelong endurance, strengthened by our vows. How else can we trust the other person enough to give ourselves wholly to them? But to get your strength, look not only to your spouse’s vow but to your true spouse, who loved you to the very end, no matter what he faced (John 13:1).
It takes courage (Pr. 31:10) to extend grace, speak truth, be vulnerable and have endurance. Have the courage today, and all your days, to love one another as Christ has loved us.