Don’t be quarrelsome. Proverbs 25

If you are reading the Proverbs in 31 Days with us, our reading for today (Friday) is Proverbs 25.

Scripture: Proverbs 25: 24

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Observation:

Living with a quarrelsome wife is terrible.

Application:

Don’t be a quarrelsome wife.

Yes, there are times to stand firm on things and disagree, but disagreeing is different than being quarrelsome.

When I do disagree with my husband, I need to be extra careful to be respectful and kind in sharing my viewpoint. And when my husband disagrees with me, I also need to respectful and kind and listen, and not quarrelsome.

I had a disagreement with a foreign exchange student we hosted and set up a time to talk. I shared the things about her behavior that I did not like in a very calm, matter of fact way and waited for her defense. My expectation was that she would respond with emotion and be quite angry and quarrelsome.

Instead she grew very quiet, thought awhile, looked at me and said “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

Of course I was blown away and my respect for her grew immensely. Rather than respond with emotion at my observations, she opted not to be quarrelsome, but instead to be respectful and kind and acknowledge her mistakes.

I think about that experience every time my husband brings up a complaint about me. Rather than just spout something back, I try to really think and see if I owe him an apology. And oftentimes I do, even if it is a message I am sending off that I don’t intend to be sending.

It is important to be a teammate to your spouse. Don’t be quarrelsome. Be respectful and kind and work things out.

I’m still pretty newly married (only 11 years), so I may still have some doozies coming. But I will try my very hardest to not be quarrelsome. If the Bible says that it is better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife, I sure don’t want my husband to have to put up with either of those irritations.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for this reminder to be respectful and kind, and not quarrelsome with my husband. I truly believe that he is a gift you have shared with me. Help me to continue to remember that, even when I am frustrated with him. I love him. I don’t want to cause him unhappiness.

What about you?

What did you hear in Proverbs 25 today?

Or how do you keep from being quarrelsome when you feel it coming on?