by Tracy Glockle

Created on: November 17, 2009

Wives of Praise

Daily we are bombarded with negatives about men and husbands. From comic strips and sitcoms to even our hair stylists-it seems that men are the brunt of every joke and sarcasm. Men are portrayed as ignorant, egotistical, and barbarous with no interests outside of sex and sports. It's no wonder daughters don't respect their fathers and wives are unhappy in marriage.

But when God made Adam, He did say that His creation was good; and the woman was meant to be Adam's helpmeet and companion, not an alternative to God's less than perfect first try. The truth is, while the world has simply followed the logical conclusion of evolution, we have lost sight of the wisdom and goodness of God's creation.

Far from being some primitive, less-evolved version of woman, man is the crown of God's creation, made in the very image of God Himself. As Christian women, it is our duty to safe-guard this image of men, and to exalt the potential our husband's possess. From Proverbs 31, to Col. 3 and Eph.5, to Titus chapter 2, the purpose and role of a woman is to be a submissive wife for the glory of God. One aspect of this submissive attitude is to be a wife of praise.

To speak good rather than evil, to bless rather than curse, to keep our tongue by the law of kindness is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. Why? Because there is power in praise. I think it is interesting that when the Lord approaches Gideon to call him to serve as a judge of Israel, He doesn't criticize Gideon's short-comings or nag him until he finally acts. Instead, the Lord approaches Gideon by praising his potential. Though we see Gideon hiding from the Midianites and hesitant to obey God, the Lord proclaims him "a mighty man of valor." Was God simply flattering Gideon? Was it all a lie? Hardly, but while man looks on the outward appearance, the Lord sees the heart.

It's easy for us to get sidetracked by appearances, by the short-comings that seem so glaring. Then, we spiritualize our fault-finding by claiming that it is some kind of a spiritual gift, and that we have been called of God to "exhort" our husbands to greater feats for God. We criticize, nag, and despise our husbands rather than uplifting them, honoring them, and praising their potential. Is this spirituality on our part, or a fleshly desire to resolve a situation we don't like? After all, if God chose to approach Gideon with praise, what right have you to approach another human with condemnation?

Yet, praising someone is not what

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