Gold Nugget
Verse 23: “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.”
Commentary
Today’s chapter in
proverbs focuses mainly on the strong character of a virtuous
wife. I would like to focus our attention on the verse concerning her husband in
the midst of a long run about her qualities. Today’s “gold nugget” says, “Her husband is known in the
gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.”
Why would I want to bring attention to what her husband’s status was in the
land? The reason isn't because of how great her husband is. I don’t believe
that is the agenda of the writer. I believe the point the writer is making is
the reason her husband was a pillar in the community. I believe the reason the
writer threw in this mention of the husband in the midst of a long list of her great qualities is because of how the husband benefited from such an amazing wife. She was
so diligent in all of her business that she not only made him look good, she
freed him of all cares that would distract him from tending to the business he
was called to. They both had business to attend to and one was not greater
than the other. Are the legs of the table any less or greater than the table
surface? Which is the man, the legs or the table surface? Both are vital and I will not
choose for this devotion which one is which. I will simply say that we all have
opportunities to enable or disable others.
We may be in the spotlight or in the
shadows, but unless we are concerned with receiving glory, it doesn't matter
which one we serve in. We just need to be the enablers for good things in each
other. Sometime we need to know that what we do makes a way or blocks the way for
others. This is not a gender thing, this is a godly thing. We can and should be
the wind beneath each other’s wings. It takes more character to hold open a
door for someone than it takes to walk through a door being held open for you.
This role of making away for others to be successful is not a growing trait,
but it is one that reflects the heart of God. In a day of self promoting, we
don’t promote one another through our own efforts enough. We should be as John
the Baptist was. Despite his great popularity, when Jesus came along, he
humbled himself, made a way for Jesus and proclaimed that he must decrease
while Jesus increased.
Prayer
Lord, help us to see opportunities where we
can make away for others to prosper through our efforts. Help us to have a
spirit of decreasing for others and more importantly, decreasing for you. Amen
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