The Blessing of a Wife

Why is it that the most important things in life are often taken for granted and unappreciated? It is a great tragedy in life that we often do not appreciate what we have. It is tragic because such a lack of awareness robs us of great joys we are meant to experience. God has blessed us in so many ways that we would have a difficult time listing them completely.

I want to focus on us men. Do you realize that if you have a wife you have received a gift from God? Proverbs 18:22 says that "He who finds a wife finds good and obtains favor from the Lord." That is not to say that every wife is a blessing to her husband, but generally speaking, men, we have it good!

Think about all the ways your wife helps you. She's there for you even when others abandon you. She's a helper. She's loving. She's pleasant company. She lets you be a man and even enjoys the distinction. She keeps order in the home. She tirelessly puts up with us and helps raise our children in an atmosphere that is often thankless. She willingly accepts the monotony and constant pressures of family life that most men find almost impossible to maintain consistently. There are many, many ways a good wife is a blessing to her husband! She was created differently from us. And we are glad! It would be terrible to imagine marrying someone just like me. Have you recently considered how your wife is a blessing to you?

God Designed Your Wife

God arranged things so that both the husband and the wife can find joy and fulfillment in marriage. Genesis 2:18-25 gives us hints and glimpses at the differences between men and women. Both genders and roles are vital. Neither is superior in worth.

The section starts with the realization from Adam that there was something missing in his life. God had created all the animals and brought some to Adam to see what he would call them (verse 19). After naming all the cattle and birds, Adam came to the realization that he was alone (verse 20). The Bible states that God then put Adam to sleep and removed a rib. From that rib a woman was formed and God presented her to Adam.

Consider for a moment some of the subtle implications of these facts.

1. God performed this "surgery" only after Adam realized that he lacked a mate. It would be easy to surmise that God led Adam to this realization so that Adam would appreciate what God was about to do.

2. God took out a rib. Jewish tradition states that God did not take from Adam's head for her to rule over him, nor from his feet that he would step on her. He took from Adam's side so that she would be close to his heart and he would put his arm around her and protect her in life.

3. God took a part of Adam to create Eve. All males must come from a mother, obviously, but the first mother came from a male. There is equality of worth because we are all made from the same "cloth". See 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 for more on this idea.

4. The fact that God took from Adam to create Eve was masterful work from God. No animal on earth was created in this way. God's method of creating her was unique, special. This emphasized to Adam her worth. How could he mistreat her if she was a part of his own flesh? He was taught an important lesson that is echoed in the New Testament book of Ephesians, "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes it and cherishes it..." (verses 28-29).

5. Eve was created for a special reason. Adam realized that he needed a helper through life. So God created a woman for him. In fact, God presented her to Adam after He created her. This served two purposes.

• It showed Eve that her special circumstances of creation did not make her better than Adam. In fact her existence revolved around the man for which she was created.
• It showed Adam that he should appreciate and adore her. Adam knew that he was alone. It would be easy to understand that his realization was as much emotional as factual. And now, here is a gift from God that takes care of his lack. He should adore and appreciate this woman! 

6. God PRESENTED her to Adam. God did not leave her in the woods for Adam to find. Adam would not have understood her significance in that case. But God showed her significance and worth in the way He arranged things to happen.

There are many other things in this passage to consider, but these show that God created woman for a special reason, and we men should appreciate their existence and their roles in our lives. Looking at these great implications of Genesis 2, it is easy to agree with the wisdom of Proverbs 18:22. "He who finds a wife finds good, and obtains favor from the Lord." Have you told your wife lately how much you appreciate her?