From “God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life” by Tim and Kathy Keller
“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.” (31:11)
VULNERABLE.
In Hebrew this reads literally, “Her husband entrusts his heart to her.” Your spouse has the power to reprogram your self-image. That is because your spouse knows you so intimately. If someone else says, “You are a kind man,” you may be complimented, but then, that person doesn’t know you all that well. But if your wife tells you, “You are the kindest man I know,” that affirms more deeply, because she sees your whole life. But, conversely, that means if your spouse says, “You are stupid,” that wounds much more deeply. How do we use this great power to build each other up but survive the inevitable misuses of it? The way to get the inner security and courage for such an intimate relationship is to remember that a Christian’s ultimate confidence and self-worth come from having the Father’s strong love because we are in Christ. Christ names us—not our spouse or anyone else (Galatians 3:26–29; Revelation 2:17). If you are married, have you and your spouse wounded each other but been able to use gospel grace in order to get past it? If you are not married, is your identity rooted in Christ, or are you in danger of taking too much of your self-worth from being a spouse?
Prayer
Lord, you call your people to trust our hearts to one another—confessing sins to one another (James 5:16) and lovingly admonishing one another (Romans 15:4). Let our faith in you enable us to be vulnerable to each other, and let this spirit of mutual trust and openness grow in our marriages. Amen.
