You husbands likewise,
live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a
woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may
not be hindered. I Peter 3:7
For those of us who are
husbands and fathers, we are to bestow “double
honor” to our wives — first as wives, then as mothers. God has given us an awesome responsibility as the
head of our household and part of that responsibility includes the way we are to treat our
wives. James makes it clear to us as husbands
our wives are to be cared for and treated with honor and understanding. They are equal heirs with us in God’s sight
and worthy of the honor that comes with being of equal status. Some might have difficulty understanding how honor
can be bestowed upon another by someone who is a leader and yet it happens when leaders of
different countries come together. They
usually show signs of respect for each other in their greetings, the environment they are
meeting in, and the way they speak to each other. Many
times they exchange gifts or have special recognition ceremonies and they try to always
respect the other’s status and position. As
God’s appointed leader of the household, we are to give our wives equal honor for
they are just as important to God as we are. This
is so important that we are warned God may not hear and/or answer our prayers if we do not
accord our wives the honor they deserve.
One of the ways we can
honor our wives is to praise them both publically and privately and be thankful for them. Proverbs 31:28 speaks of the godly man who blesses
his wife and expresses his praise and thankfulness to her verbally and by his actions. A good, godly wife is extremely valuable and she
generates trust in her husband’s heart by her dedication, hard work, fear of the
Lord, and commitment to her husband and her family. In
return, she is worthy of praise and honor both now and when she comes to the judgment.
When was the last time you
made a special effort to praise your wife and recognize what she does for you and your
household? Do you make a special effort to
give her “double honor”? If you don’t,
then maybe that is why God isn’t responding to your prayers. Rise up and bless her and give her the praise she
deserves. The result will bless you in return
and bring happiness to your home.
An
excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he
will have no lack of gain..... Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and
he praises her, saying: "Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them
all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is
vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the
product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.