After watching a television show, a middle-aged wife was curious and asked her husband what he thought about a woman taking it upon herself to propose to her boyfriend. Most people who don’t know much about the Bible or don’t adhere to God’s standards will probably come down on the side of ‘Go for it, Sister!” Some men might even think, “Yeah, let the woman take on some of the heavy lifting.” But the truth is that traditionally, it’s been the role of a man to choose his wife, and this isn’t something humans came up with. It was set in order by our Supreme Creator. Heavenly Father doesn’t make mistakes, and He knows exactly what is best for us, our families, and everyone else.
Arrogance is a very destructive attitude. God tells us in Proverbs 16:18 that pride leads to destruction and arrogance leads to a fall. This is a warning to us. When we start thinking that our way is best, and that we know better than God, the culprit is a mindset of arrogance. It will totally destroy our plans and set us up for failure. Arrogance is a tornado that has left many broken relationships in its wake.
God’s way is always best. We are His creations, and He didn’t make the woman’s role less than the man’s role, but He did in truth make them separate and distinct. Complimenting each other in unity, commitment, and love is the Father’s masterful design. We are His daughters, and just as we would expect from any devoted and loving Father, God wants to see us blessed. He wants His daughters to be treated like queens and His sons to be treated like kings. He ordained the roles with honor and orchestrated every detail of how they are to be lived.
He instructs us in 1Peter 3:7(NLT), “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.” This honor that our Heavenly Father is teaching us about includes the man’s responsibility to demonstrate the very highest level of respect and esteem towards the woman he chooses to be his wife, but he has to actually choose her for honor to be released and embraced.
God’s wisdom in Proverbs 18:22(NLT) teaches, “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.” This is God’s truth! Many people have over-simplified, over-complicated, or overlooked the bedrock of stability that God reveals in this verse, but that is a big mistake. Honor is a very important part of the Christian walk, and it is instrumental to establishing the strength of the marital commitment. It’s the part that God has sanctioned the man to initiate, and if the man does his part, he opens the door to God’s favor upon his life, his marriage, and his future family.
The wife that posed the question to her husband felt inspired and honored by his answer. Without hesitation he said, “Let the man show her how much he wants her in his life, because that’s the gift she’ll always carry in her heart.” Every daughter of God deserves this gift. The Father desires that every woman is worthy to receive honor in this way, and He desires that every man is worthy to give it. ■
English Standard Version (ESV), The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Gift She Will Always Carry in Her Heart”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2021. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.