“A Capable Wife”

“Proverbs 31:10-31 describes ‘a capable wife’ whose ‘value is far more than that of corals.’ It would be beneficial for all wives, especially those newly married, to study this material carefully. Let us consider some highlights, beginning at Pr 31 verse 14:

“‘She has proved to be like the ships of a merchant. From far away she brings in her food.’ I can just see your wife traveling a good distance with her shopping cart to search out bargains in the stores. And how necessary that is today with prices continually rising.

“Pr 31 Verses 15 and 17 point out: ‘She also gets up while it is still night, and gives food to her household. . . . She has girded her hips with strength, and she invigorates her arms.’ What could call for more vigor in a woman than keeping a house neat and clean, caring for children and preparing tasty, economical meals on time? Add to this, sewing of buttons on clothes, darning socks and all the other things required of a good homemaker and you realize that a wife has a big job.

“But how rewarding for a wife who puts the counsel of God’s Word to work in her life! Pr 31 Verse 30 states: ‘Charm may be false, and prettiness may be vain; but the woman that fears Jehovah is the one that procures praise for herself.’ What a fine reward! A woman whose conduct shows that she fears Jehovah procures praise from her husband, from those acquainted with her, and, most importantly, from God himself.”

“If you apply Bible principles as a married couple, your love for each other will continue to grow. You will find yourselves attracted to each other, not only physically, but especially because of the godly qualities that you see in your partner. However, as imperfect creatures, you will surely get on each other’s nerves from time to time. How should you react when this happens?

“Ephesians 4:29, 32 provides excellent counsel: ‘Let a rotten saying not proceed out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up as the need may be. . . . become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you.’

“While Jehovah God views a married couple as ‘one flesh,’ this does not mean that marriage is a fifty-fifty proposition. Each partner must be willing to give in more than halfway when problems arise. And they will arise, for you both will face pressures daily.

“For example, when a man is out working, people are sometimes unkind or even downright nasty. As a wife does her housework or cares for children, some days it seems that everything goes wrong. This can give rise to tension and create a ‘need’ for sayings that are ‘good for building up,’ as the apostle Paul put it. (Eph. 4:29) Will your homelife provide such a refreshing atmosphere? Each of you must put forth extra effort to make it that way, especially if you feel worn out from a trying day.