...The City Gate...

Proverbs 31:10-31 was something we vaguely addressed in our meeting last night, but I wanted to take time to say something about it now. I want to talk about my wife, in reference to the Proverbs.

"Giver her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate" (Proverbs 31:31).

I felt convicted for the lack of encouragement I give my wife, because she is simply amazing. So, as the verse above suggests, I am giving my beautiful wife what she deserves. I just want to broadcast, to the world, the qualities of my bride. In a lot of ways, blogs are the city gates for our friends from church. So I think this is appropriate.

My bride is, undoubtedly, a wife of noble character (10). She is true to God, faithful and loving to me, forgiving and unjudgmental, honest and kind hearted, slow to anger and quick to encouragement, and she is undoubtedly the person who I can count on to be in my corner when times are rough. Her life was not always easy - as Paul suggests, this proven character is the result of endurance through afflictions (Romans 5). However, she spurns me on to righteousness with her faith, hope, and love. I have full confidence in this woman of God (11)!

In terms of her work ethic, her dedication, and her eagerness to bring these Godly characteristics to her workplace, I would argue that none can compare to my bride. She cares for the children in her charge with her whole heart. She rejoices when a child can recognize a letter; even things we might see as insignificant are celebrated by my wife, because it is something important in a child's life. She is a woman who is fully involved with edifying children, prospering our household, and creating a home atmosphere of solace (12-19).

She is adorned "with strength and dignity" (25), and she extends this to others (20-24). We sponsor a child, and plan to welcome many children into our home through adoption. My wife is a woman who wants to save the world one person at a time. She wants to raise missionaries, to build into the future of others so that they can continue the same aim. All-the-while, we lack nothing. I feel as though I am a millionaire, because she takes care to cover our table with food, fill our closets with clothing, and keep our closets stocked by means of bargain shopping mastery (27).

She is a woman of wisdom beyond her years (26). I will always call her blessed, sharing in the qualities and LIFE of God, for all of the days of my life (28). My wife has a reverence for God, but she is no hypocrite that loves the spotlight - she is a woman who stands in awe of the Lord (30). Other women can win marathons or go to the moon or win the lottery to impress people, but I believe that few, a select few, have qualities like my bride. She is rare like pink pearls, like ten carat diamonds, like honest lawyers, or respectable politicians... she is one in a million (29).

So, she deserves some credit, credit I rarely give to her. And I just want to invite others to do the same. Please note, this is not to be cute - I do not give my bride enough encouragement. This was my conviction in walking away from our men's group.