WELCOME

Enrich His Life

By Robin Burroughs

What a blessing this study has been to me. It seems the devotional topics that I struggle with the most come to mean the most to me. Isn't it that way in our daily spiritual walk? The struggles that come our way cause us to dig deeper in His word and spend more time at the begging place where much peace can be found. It is in those times that we see the struggles as blessings because, through Him, they strengthen us.

"Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD." (Proverbs 19:14)

In Proverbs 19:14, we can see a contrast between men's gifts and the gift God gives men through His providence. A prudent wife does not come from the provisions of a man's parents or from his own good choice but from the kind providence of God. His parents may give him houses and lands, but it is God who gives him a wise and discreet woman to be an helpmeet to him.

Can we say that we are that gift from God to our husbands? A closer study of the word "prudent" may help each of us answer that question. The Hebrew word, sakal, means: careful to consider all; intelligent; to guide wittingly; to instruct with wisdom; to prosper and to have good success. A prudent wife seeks her wisdom from God (James 1:5).

Characteristics of a Prudent Wife:

1) Sensible when dealing with practical issues

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness." (Proverbs 31:26)

2) Uses good judgment at all times

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain." (Proverbs 31:11)

3) Considers circumstances and consequences for any given action and acts accordingly in the best interests of her husband and family

"She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." (Proverbs 31:12)

4) Careful resource manager (food, clothing, money, time etc)

"She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands .... She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness." (Proverbs 31:13, 27)

5) Shows restraint in her behavior

"Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come."  (Proverbs 31:25)

6) Not hasty in her decisions or actions

"She considers a field and buys it; from her profits, she plants a vineyard." (Proverbs 31:16)

7) Thoughtful

"She extends her hand to the poor, yes; she reaches out her hands to the needy."  (Proverbs 31:20)

8) Watchful and alert to guard against dangers, errors, and difficulties

"She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet."  (Proverbs 31:21)

9.) Respects her husband

"Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (Ephesians 5:33)

Blessings of a Prudent Wife:

1. A gift from God (Proverbs 19:14).

2. A Crowning glory to her husband (Proverbs 12:4).

3. He praises her (Proverbs 31:28).

4. He trusts her (Proverbs 31:11).

5. He is faithful to her (Proverbs 5:15-21)

The greatest treasure for this husband is his wife. She is a blessing from God. She brings out the best in him by bringing him honor and dignity.

When God looked at the man He created, He saw incompleteness. He saved the best for last and created woman as man's helpmeet. How special we are in the sight of our God. We were created with a very special purpose… to enrich his life!

Questions:

1. What is contrasted in Proverbs 19:14?

2. What is the Hebrew word for "prudent'?

3. What does it mean?

4. List some characteristics of a prudent woman.

5. Other than the "Virtuous Woman" of Proverbs 31, name another woman of the Bible you would consider to be prudent.

6. What are some of the blessings of the prudent wife?

7. Do you consider yourself to be a prudent wife?

8. If so, what characteristics to you possess?

9. If not, what changes are you willing to make?

10. Choose to do something today to enrich your husband's life.