Proverbs 31:23

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

At the time I had first prepared to write this devotion after reading this verse, I had no idea what I would be able to get out of it. So, I asked myself some questions. Why is her husband known in the gates? How is he known? Did his wife do things that helped him have a good reputation? His wife obviously did have an effect on his reputation, because he was spoken of by others in the gates of the city. Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour than silver and gold.

I thought, how do OUR actions affect our HUSBAND'S reputation? It can be good, or it can also be bad. We, as women, can possibly make, or break, our husband’s reputation. Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Let’s look at a few examples of women in the Bible that had detrimental effects on their husbands:

Eve-she was deceived, and as a result her husband sinned against God causing the Fall of Man.

Jezebel-was very wicked, and had someone killed just to satisfy her wimpy husband’s desire for a vineyard.

Sarah-She laughed when she was told she would conceive in her old age, doubting God. Prior to that, she didn’t obey and wait on God, but instead orchestrated the conception of the Ishmaelite nation, whom today are the Muslims.  

Job’s wife-discouraging. She told Job just to “curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9)

Delilah-tricked her husband into telling her the truth, and she gave him over to the Philistines.

Sapphira-conspired with her husband to hold back money that they said they were giving, instead of saying it wasn’t right. She may have convinced him to do right, and they both may have lived. Instead, they both died.

Proverbs 7 woman-Read about her. Need I say more?

Good examples:

Abigail-saved her husband’s life. (1 Samuel 25) The Bible says she was of a good understanding.

Ruth-was a good example of a humble, meek, and clean woman. Her actions were honoring to Boaz and would not hurt his good reputation among the people, as a harlot would have. (Book of Ruth, and specifically  Chapter 3 verses 10-11)

Priscilla, Acts 18:26-She, and her husband, instructed Apollos in the Scriptures. This means that she obviously knew the Scriptures.

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house, but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

Are we helping or hurting our husband's reputation? We must think about our actions and how they may affect our testimony, and also his. In Titus Chapter 2, God's commands to us women include: being in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that we (as older women) may teach the younger to be sober, to love our own husbands, to love our children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands. All this is said to us, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (TItus 2: 3-5) What is our heart's desire as a wife? Are we trying to abide by the Word of God, and be a blessing and encouragement to our husbands? If we are slanderers, bad influences, liars, gossips, indiscreet, busybodies, and rebellious to our husbands, then we are not what God wants us to be. 

Also, if we are the wife of a pastor (bishop), or deacon, the Bible mentions qualities for us as well. In 1 Timothy 3, a pastor must "ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) If we as wives are rebellious and not submitted to him, then we are guilty of disqualifying him as a pastor. And as for the wife of a deacon, the Word of God says, "Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things." 1 Timothy 3:11 

Then I thought, as the saved body of Christ, we are considered the Bride of Christ. As His ‘wife’, what testimony are we for Him? What example are we to the lost? Are we giving Him a good, or a bad, reputation? 

At the end of the book of Romans, I noticed that in Chapter 16 verse 10, Paul said, “Salute Appelles, approved in Christ.” I thought, what did this Appelles do that Paul considered him ‘approved in Christ’? How are we ‘approved’?           2 Timothy 2:15 says “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 

By reading, studying, learning, and hiding God’s Word in our hearts, that is how we are ‘approved’ in Christ. That doesn’t mean just memorizing the Bible. Psalm 119:105  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” A lamp is of no use unless it is used, then it gives light for us to see.

Psalm 119:130  “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

Psalm 119:11  “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

When we buy someone a gift for Christmas, we like to hide it, and bring it out for them just at the appropriate moment. That is what God does with His Word. When we study, and hide His Word, and when the opportunity arises to witness to or encourage someone, God brings His Word to our mind just at the perfect moment.  Hebrews 4:12  “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

It is HIS WORD that works in the hearts and minds of others. We don’t need to try to convince others that we are right, or that they need to get saved because we think they do. God’s Word is convicting all on its own. Isaiah 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

We can comfort, encourage, and help as much as possible with our own soothing, comforting words, but ultimately it is God’s Word that helps more than anything. Several years ago, I was helping a lady friend who had a little girl. She had been deserted by her husband for another woman. All the advice and help that I tried to give may have been helpful, but together we turned to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. She read the Scripture herself, and she just melted and began weeping. She knew the most comfort and help she could ever receive was from the Word of God.

It is our responsibility to study it, know it, and be prepared to answer every man with it.

Colossians 4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. That doesn't mean we should preach at people or try to inform them of everything WE know, but to be ready when people ASK us "a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1 Peter 3:15.

Do you want to be ‘approved in Christ’? I DO!!!  :) 

GOD'S WORD WORKS!!!