Enriching Your Spouse’s Life
- Aug 28, 2017
- 3 min read
Yesterday, we concluded our series with the principle of "Radical Generosity." Generosity can be expressed in several ways. But one thing is for sure: radical generosity fuels good relationships. Jesus, in His generosity, left the beauty of heaven to be with us in this sin-marred world so we can have a relationship with the Father through the cross. So, following the footsteps of our Savior and Lord, below is one practical way of being rich toward a relationship that God Himself authored – marriage.
Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
- Proverbs 31:11 (NLT)
Proverbs 31 has always challenged me to become a better wife and bestfriend to my spouse. Today, this phrase “greatly enrich his life” caught my eye. Nice phrase, but what does it mean to greatly enrich my husband’s life? How does it unfold on a day-to-day basis?
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translates this phrase as “no lack of gain.” The Hebrew translation* paints a vivid picture of these words. Follow me for a little while as we explore what NO LACK OF GAIN is like:
1. “no” – from the Hebrew word “lo’,” a strong expression which means “absolutely nothing”
2. “lack” – from the Hebrew word “chacer,” which means “diminished by,” “failed by”
3. “of gain” – from the Hebrew word “shalal,” which depicts plunder, spoils of, or rewards of war
Putting those words together, Proverbs 31 strongly exhorts me to make sure my husband absolutely DOES NOT FAIL to experience the REWARDS OF WHAT GOD CALLS HIM TO FIGHT FOR. So, I ventured to ask Corey about basic convictions/principles God has put in his heart. Hopefully, these examples will help guide you, as a wife, to navigate what “enriching husband’s life” is like:
1. His personal relationship with God. My role is to help him guard his daily quiet time (worship, Bible reading, and prayer) with God. Practically speaking, that means allowing him
to retreat in his prayer room in the mornings and preventing our hyperactive phones, laptops, and puppy from distracting him.
2. Our marriage. We both acknowledge that marriage is a covenant and a blessing from God. And it needs hard work. My role is to restrain myself from being glued to my phone or laptop when we’re spending time together. On Fridays, we intentionally listen to sermons geared towards marriage.
3. Corey’s health (spirit, soul, and body). His personality is naturally introverted. An introvert functions well with big groups (common misunderstanding on introverts vs. extroverts), but introverted people get refreshed when they pull away from the crowd and have some “alone time.” My role is to encourage him for weekly retreats by fishing by ourselves, reading a good book, and just having a laid-back day. This is a challenge for me because I get refreshed with a packed, let’s-go-explore-places day. Thankfully, God has been showing me the benefits of rest and relaxation at home.
4. Our ministry. Being in ministry, our schedule can go wild and crazy. And when we get so busy, we get cranky. By evening, I sometimes turn into an angry elf stomping my foot around the house. One of the ways I can enrich Corey’s life is to just chill and laugh. Sounds simple. But being pulled in many directions can make someone forget how it is to have fun. Fun is very important for my husband. And it’s something I want to help him protect. Also, as a pastor, Mondays are his sermon preparation days. He devotes that day to seek the Holy Spirit and study the Bible for a timely message for God’s church. He operates on the principle that God’s people need to hear what God is saying for that particular season that will cause them to grow closer with Him. My role is to take his phone calls, text messages, and emails, and if someone needs him, I schedule another time with them.
Phew, those are just some ideas. Obviously, your marriage will look different from ours. Your husband’s needs will be different from mine. Ask God and your spouse for specific, practical strategies. You’ll be surprised with the results. And don't forget, be radically intentional and generous in enriching your spouse's life.
*Thank you, blueletterbible.org, for the rich resource of translations and concordance.
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