THEME: The Reign of God: Marriage and Christian Lifestyle
SUB-THEME: Happy marriage with a virtuous wife 1
TOPIC: Concept and contexts of a virtuous wife
TEXT: Prov. 31:10-29
AIMS:
i. to analyse the concepts of a virtuous wife in biblical context and
ii. to illustrate a happy marriage in the context of a virtuous wife.
INTRODUCTION
The primary gain of marriage is happiness in the union of two people coming together to be one. That means; happiness depends upon the virtues that the wife and husband exhibit towards themselves. For the next five weeks, we shall be discussing how a virtuous wife can be the prime basis for a happy marriage. Virtuous simply means to be noble and excellent in all things. A virtuous wife therefore means a wife that is filled with confidence, compassion, patience, courage and wisdom without any traits of rudeness, pride and arrogance. Our text today extols the character of a virtuous wife and priced her more than rubies (precious stones with many colours). Let us not be in a hurry because the next sub-theme shall be based on virtuous husband.
STUDY GUIDE
1. From the introduction, “the primary evidence of a successful godly marriage is happiness.” Discuss in the context of a virtuous wife in Est 5:1-3; Prov. 12:4; 31:10-12.
2. Analyse the attributes of a virtuous wife according to Prov. 31:13-27. Considering the busy schedules of some wives in our contemporary society, how can all these attributes be feasible in marital home?
3. Critically study Prov. 31:26-28 and discuss the joy of a virtuous wife in relation to her children and husband. From your experience, what do some children call their mothers and why?
4. From your experience, what are some of the complaints by some contemporary young wives concerning the duties of a virtuous wife as analysed in Prov 31:13-25.
CONCLUSION: As happiness is primary in a godly marriage, the wife should strive as much as possible to exhibit the biblical virtues appertaining to her in other to achieve the desired joy and happiness in her marital home.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Wherever you find a virtuous wife, surely, happiness shall fill the marital home.
MEMORY VERSE: Prov 31:10
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies”.
