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Light and darkness, righteousness and wickedness, such a sharp contrast is given to the fundamental difference between a Christian believer and a nonbeliever. There will be no harmony in such a relationship. The DNA of a godly Christian inevitably rejects such matrimony because it is not in his nature to do so that is to be unequally yoked. There is little common ground. It is when there is insufficient godliness and fear of the Lord in the Christian that he compromises his faith and his obedience. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers…” . (2 Corinthians 6:14). A wise farmer would never yoke a cow and a horse and hope that they can plough the field together. It will not produce the best result because the plough will probably go all over the field being ploughed. It will be a genuine headache for the farmer trying to get his field ready for the seeding time.
A leaky tap in the quiet of the night can be very annoying or a leaky roof in a thunderstorm brings in the rain and if not repaired, will cause more destruction to the house. This is how King Solomon described a spouse who nags frequently. It is not easy to restrain such a quarrelsome spouse; it is like “grasping oil with the hand” (Proverbs 27:16). Spousal relationship can be put to the test when romance is replaced by the daily grind of work and life. Therefore, there are numerous practical warnings on marital strife and conflicts given in the book of Proverbs.
What makes for a godly spouse? We find Proverbs describing her to be noble and that her nobleness promotes her husband. She is “her husband’s crown” (Proverbs 12:4) and “her husband has full confidence in her” (Proverbs 31:11). The wife’s godliness brings honour and respect to the husband. Her uprightness brings good repute to him as he sits with the elders of the land. Such a wife brings honour to her husband and her godliness is much honored in Bible and is indeed very praiseworthy. W hat is God’s original plan for a godly spouse? We go back to Genesis. When God created woman out of the rib of man, He made her to be the “ezer-kenegdo” (Genesis 2:18), translated to mean a “suitable helper”. Eve was one who is a true, faithful and complete “helper” at all times and especially in times of trouble. Her love is absolute and thorough, her understanding sincere and compassionate and her support all-embracing and swift. God intends the woman to be an active partner in the marriage relationship and she is to be that someone who “brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12).
