“A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.” Proverbs 11:16
Compare the vehemence. An woman of grace will pursue and protect an honorable stature with the same persistence and strength that a wicked man pursues wealth. Often Solomon expresses the reality of what he sees. This proverb is no exception. Through this observation he puts the violent man; ruthless man (in the original) as a comparison to the desire a woman has for/and to be honored. It is easy for us to conceive a pirate (if I may), hunting down treasure, but perhaps we (especially as men) don’t understand that there is such drive in a woman. It is just, often, in a completely different direction than men would think.
Lord God, I struggle between not being my wife’s instructor/teacher and leading/guiding her sanctification. When I read a proverb like this I think so much about her… what are You saying to me? … Lead me, so I can lead her in Your grace. Strengthen me to honor her, and defend her; fight for her. Teach me how to build-up and defend her honor even when she’s wrong. Bless us today. Bring us back together stronger.