Christian husbands, we are called to image God with our lives as men.  And in our marriages we are called to image God as a husband to our wives.  The latter half of Proverbs 31 gives us the example of a good and godly wife.  But it also in the end gives us an example of how a good and godly husband reacts to his wife’s righteous life.

He praises her.

The Bible is not talking about men praising women as the world would have us do today.  It is not about praising women for accomplishments outside the home in places God never meant them to be in.  It is not about praising women for acting like men.

It is about praising women for acting like women in the way God meant them to be.

Some today have the attitude that husbands should praise their wives simply for occupying the same space with them.  Women don’t have to do anything worthy of praise in their actions, they are simply worthy of praise for being women.   Such a concept of praise is not supported anywhere in the Bible.  And if a man praises his wife when her actions are un-praiseworthy he does her and himself a disservice as her head.

Some men are really good at the praising aspect with their wives, while lacking in the correction and discipline area with their wives.  For others, it is the opposite and it is all correction and discipline and absolutely no praise.  We as Christians husbands need to find that balance.

Husband, make a concerted effort to praise your wife when she cooks well, when you come home to a beautifully kept home, when she makes herself beautiful for you and also when she performs well sexually.  Also make sure you teach your children to compliment their mother as well.