PRAISE NOT FLATTERY – Proverbs 31:28b
Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Proverbs 31:28b her husband also, and he praiseth her.
The woman who has chosen to allow virtue to permeate her life has chosen a high calling for her life. She is not like every other woman. She has chosen to live her life so that others might succeed. She has chosen to live her life so that when others look at her, they understand that there is something different about her.
According to the Law of Moses, if a husband felt that his wife had been unfaithful he was allowed to bring his wife before the priest who would make her drink a mixture of holy water and dirt. If she was faithful, then God would allow this mixture to have no consequence upon her life, however, if she had committed adultery, then the mixture would be her curse.
A virtuous woman would never have to worry about her husband being jealous of her because her choice to add virtue to her life has caused her husband to safely trust in her. She knows that she is valuable in her husband’s eyes. She understands that because she has decided to choose inward character rather than doing what everyone else is doing, in her husband’s heart, she is the most valuable thing to him; more valuable then rubies.
Her husband does not simply sit back and enjoy the fact that his wife has chosen to live her life so that he is successful. Her husband does not take for granted that he has married a woman who because of the choices she has made has enabled him to do more then he could have done had he not married or had he married just any other girl. No, the virtuous woman’s husband recognizes what she means to him and he lets everyone know through the words of his mouth that she is highly respected and worthy of praise.
When you chose to add virtue to your life, your life will naturally start affecting those who God has place around you. No longer will you simply be living your life for yourself, but instead your focus will be upon God and what you can do for HIM. As you diligently live your life for HIS glory, God will cause those whom you have touched to rise up and praise you. This praise is not for you to become proud and self-righteous, this praise is to encourage you that the path you have chosen is right, and that others are grateful for the positive impact that you have had upon their life.
The reason you have chosen to add virtue to your life is not because you desire the praises of man. However, one of the benefits of doing what is right before God is that others will see your conscience choice serve the Lord and they will let you know how your life has benefited them.
You have a choice to make. You can chose to add virtue to your life and to see what God can do through you because you have chosen to put HIM first in your life, or you can chose to live for yourself and see how the world treats you. If you chose to live for God, you will touch the lives of many and they will let you know how you have blessed them. If you chose to live for yourself, do not expect the praises of man; you can expect the flattery of man as they try to use you for their own selfish desires. The choice is yours; how do you desire others to remember you? What legacy do you want to leave for those who come after you? The praises of man for doing right is always better than flattery.