The Heart of Her Husband

Proberbs 31:11 "The heart of her husband trust in her and he will have lack of gain."

This has long been one of my favorite passages addressing the relationship between husband and wife. The entire passage paints a loving relationship that should be emulated. However, this kind of relationship was likely as hard to come by when Solomon wrote it as it is now. In those times it was common practice for a man to lock his valuables away from the grasp of his wife in order to prevent her from squandering all he owned. But the couple described for us here is quite different.

It is because of the wife that the husband has gained much in the way of wealth and respect. He is respected by all who know him and leaves much of the affairs of his home in the hands of his wife. Why? Because his heart trusts in her. And she has shown herself to be incredibly loyal to him.

So how does this translate into practical everyday living for us now? When you shop, do you make every dollar count? Do you strive for thriftiness and look for bargains, getting a "bang for your buck"? Do you show respect for his hard work by asking for his input before making a purchase? Do you complain about the things that you do not have and constantly ask for more? Do you manage well the affairs of your home and provide a place of rest for him when he comes home?

I know there are many things that I need to improve upon. And there have been times of discouragement. But nonetheless, I have determined in my heart to strive for excellence.