The Bed You Lay In

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 21

Gold Nugget

Verse 9: Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.  19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman

Commentary

You've heard the old saying "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."It goes without saying that Proverbs was written in a masculine context. Should that excuse the ladies from heeding or learning from it's principles and wisdom? What could we possibly glean from the (twice mentioned here and again in other proverbs) "contentious woman"? 

First, I would say the goal is not to asses this "contentious (angry or full of strife) woman". We would do ourselves a great injustice not to perceive the position of the man. It is well documented and understood of history the role that men and women played in those days. I like that these chapters never mention that it was better to divorce an angry woman than to live with or share a house with her. As a rehabilitated divorcer, that would have given the old me a way out. As I said, I have been rehabilitated. God has shown me that some beds I make, I must lay in.

Sometimes (whether it be marriage or another situation) we make decisions that we must live with. I have a tattoo from my early years that I would rather not have anymore. Many Christians can never vote, because of a felony that was committed in their past. There are many choices we have made that we must learn how to be faithful Christians despite of. Maybe it is the church you attend, the job you go to everyday or the car payment you just got yourself into. You may have to just ride this one out with a lot of grace, patience and mercy until God delivers you. People will always be difficult and decisions may cost you, but we are not a weak people. God's children are strong and able to hang in there. Whatever it is you are having to face because of your own doing or choice, God can give you the grace to endure and the mercy to forgive.

Prayer

Lord, I know that some of my difficulties are because of decisions that I have made myself. I know that you have forgiven me of poor and foolish decisions, but I also know that sometimes I must still face the consequences. I take pleasure in knowing that I will never have to pay the full price of my sins because of your work on the cross. I can (with your grace and mercy) endure the road that is before me. Amen

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