
1 Samuel 25:31
New Living Translation
Don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!”
For Encouragement
Life is like a tapestry, with many threads intertwined. Some are vibrant and draw our eye, while others, almost unseen, might be the very things that keep it from unraveling. The story of the Nabal family is a perfect example. It’s astonishing that Abigail, a genuinely kind woman, was married to the vile Nabal, a man who was impossible to deal with (1 Sam. 25:17). When David threatened to wipe out their entire household, the servants knew exactly who to turn to: Abigail, the woman who held everything together with her diligence, wisdom, and grace (14-18).
Abigail represents women who silently sustain their homes. Often unrecognized and even disdained, they remain anchored in Christian values, maintaining faithful service while longing for understanding and relief (1 Cor. 11:3).
In our modern context, many women work outside the home. Like Abigail, she rises early, occupies her hands with tasks and nurtures her family with consistent care and commitment. Proverbs celebrates such dedicated women as “clothed with strength and dignity…she laughs without fear of the future” (Prov. 31:25). So glad that the virtuous wife’s husband and children appreciated her (28).
Some husbands seek status outside, neglecting the central role their wives assume in the family, which deepens their loneliness and overlooks the crucial role these women play at home. Oh, how they miss the joy of total communion with their spouses in their homes!
If you feel unseen in your home, dear women, take heart: God notices your strength and unsung sacrifices, knows your pain, and will uplift your spirit (Psa. 34:18). Even when others overlook you, Jesus values your faithfulness. Choose to root your worth in God’s love, not in others’ opinions. Stand confidently in the truth of your value today.
Husbands, recognize your wife’s true worth and respect her. God calls for mutual respect in marriage, flaws and all. Dishonoring your wife is dishonoring yourself and ultimately, Christ, who is your head (1 Cor. 11:3).
A woman of conviction and strength of character is not your enemy. Rather, she is your partner in the shared life of raising godly children and Christian posterity. Understanding her tender heart and paying attention to her contributions, encouragement, and counsel will make you a better man than you could ever be. Never forget that God created her to complete you and to fill a void in your life (Gen. 2:18, 21-23). So, why deny yourself the best of God for your life?
Pray with Me
Father, thank you for the women who dedicate their lives to you in their marriages, doing everything to honor you and to make their homes prosperous and safe. I pray you remember their sacrifices and commitment, which often go unnoticed by the men you have called to love them as you love your church. May you infuse their hearts with your love and presence, and may they rejoice in you in every circumstance, in Jesus’ precious name. Amen!
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