The Excellent Wife, Ch 14

God's Provision...Resources for the Wife's Protection

This chapter contained eight biblical ways God protects a submissive wife when her husband sins against her. The all require action and obedience to God's word.

Communicate Biblically

"God-honoring responses are gentle, loving in tone, and edifying to the hearer." In other words, thinking what you are going to say before you say it. What a concept!

Overcome Evil With Good

How is this done? "When a husband sins, instead of dwelling on what he did and plotting a way to get back at him, a godly wife prayerfully considers a specific, practical act in which she can render a blessing to her husband. After she thinks of it-she must do it!" There's that action-on-my-part thing again! "Having a second mile attitude will also help prevent a wife from becoming embittered."

Make A Biblical Appeal

• should be done for the purpose of achieving the husband's objective or desire


• motive can not be manipulation


• do it respectfully


• use good timing


• make the appeal only once (the whole nagging-wife-dripping-water thing)


• always prefaced or concluded with a statement that we are willing to do what our husbands ultimately decide

Give A Biblical Reproof

This is telling someone that what they are doing is not right according to the Word of God. It was a lengthy section with some good information. "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequately equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16,17

Respond Biblically To Foolish Demands

"A foolish man is one who rejects the Word of God and does what is right in his own eyes." Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest you be like him. Proverbs 26:4 "The tendency for may wives is to respond to mistreatment by their husbands with sinful anger, fear, pouting, clamming up, yelling, going home to mother, crying, making brutal verbal attacks or other defensive behavior." In other words, responding to a fool like a fool.

Seek Godly Counsel

Obviously, its important counsel is given by a godly person who knows and believes the scripture, that the Bible applies to everyday life and that it is given so that we can lead a life pleasing to God. "Such a person will believe that the Bible is true and is without error and that the Bible can not lead people astray if it is properly understood and obeyed."

Church Discipline

"If your brother sins, go and reprove him in private, if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two of three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church" Matthew 18:15-17

Involve the Governing Authorities

This step is used only when there is danger to the wife or her children. Passively submitting to physical abuse is never right.

All these steps were laid out in detail. I appreciate the fact that God has given us such a clear path to take in our relationships. The Bible is so practical and useful. I'm also thankful that God has given Shaun to me. I never have to get to far into these steps. However, the perfecting the first two is enough to last me a lifetime! God-honoring responses in a gentle and loving way and a second-mile attitude. Yeah, that is plenty for me to work on!