A Wife’s Input is Valuable (until the worth is lost)
I will start this off by saying, my wife and i do not always agree on things. However, her advice is often REALLY helpful. When I am not in agreeance with her, or unsure, I will pray and ask GOD “what I should know about what she is saying. Is she accurate.” I would then ask Him to work it out for US, if I am in error.
Contention against leadership’s authority is (and can be) contagious, and argumentative and prickly people work hard to convince their cohorts to join their cause. A man’s initial grievance(s) against another may have nothing to do with nothing, but through frequent conversation and the subtle manipulation of ideas, a frustrated and contrary individual will be able to draw others into his agitated treason.
It doesn’t usually take a whole lot to persuade another person to join you, if they are struggling themselves with personal motives, or the lack of Biblical trust.
Be careful.
In the end, a fate unbeknownst to the dissent awaits. …especially, if the mess they are causing is unwarranted.
GOD has a way to deal with rebellion and division. Much of this is eerily similar to the Satan and what he did with the heavenly beings. …and now, YOU and me. Their end and ours is not so good, should we continue down this road of fleshly and spiritual mutiny and disruption.
Rebellion against man is one thing, but against the Word of GOD, His order of the Most High Himself is yet another issue.
In church and religious settings, there are times these things get started out of feeling overlooked, slighted and maybe jealousy. The sad part of this is, sometimes the husband is trying to defend his wife’s words and choices. Yeah, the whole story is not frequently known and BOOM! What a mess! These things could also be man activated because “he stole my position as deacon, elder, or the like.”
Be careful of instigating fights. As a child, I recall being part of an instigated fight. When it was over, the question is usually, “How did it start”? …and friendships are ruined.
Men, when your wife “resents” someone you know, ask many questions. There may be some added chametz (leaven/yeast) in the dough that should not be there. Again, “That is my husband’s job,” or “I heard this said about you.” Her subtlety will often undermine her husband’s loyalty towards his friend or leadership.
She would keep pressing you until you see her side and give in to the pressure and see things her way. See Korah and his wife in Scripture.
Here are TWO examples of Scripture concerning TWO different wives and their approach to a situation their hubbys were in.
EXAMPLE: “Moses is not hearing from GOD. He is just making things up. Go ask Moses if you need to attach blue threads to a garment that is completely made of blue fabric.” She constantly criticized Moses and Aaron and the commandments. “Can’t you see that Moses is making a fool of you and the other Levites?” she would ask. When Korah finally decided to raise a rebellion, he thought it was his own initiative, but his wife had planted the ideas in his head.
WIFE #1: Every day when Korah came back from the assembly, his wife asked him what Moses had said, and then she would ridicule his teachings.
WIFE #2: When she found out that her husband had joined Korah’s insurrection against Moses and Aaron, she took him aside and asked, “Why are you getting involved with these Levites? What business is it of yours? You are a student of Moses. If Korah overthrows him, you will be a pupil of Korah. How does that improve your situation? As it is, you have gotten yourself into matters in which you should not be involved.” Her husband explained that he had been swept away with Korah’s messy words and taken a vow to join him in a rebellion. “Do as I say and I will get you out of your vow,” she said. She fed him a rich meal and gave him plenty of wine so that he overslept. When Korah’s men came looking for him, she sat in the doorway of the tent, brushing her hair, and did not let them into the tent to wake him.
Her husband missed the entire encounter and affair without intentionally breaking his vow.
Both wives were looking out for something. One for her self (and her husband). The other her husband and his relationship with the one her husband worked for (submitted to).
The story is just a tale, but if we look at it for what it could be, it has an important lesson about how we influence our spouses and how we allow them to influence us.
Proverbs 14:1 says, “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.”
Godly men lead well, and some of them fall prey to selfishness and jealousy. Which will we choose, at every opportunity?