The Contentious Woman – Sunday Thought For The Day

Preaching and teaching regarding the damage a contentious woman inflicts upon the home and family is a subject that is carefully avoided by most pulpits today.  I submit this shows how far from the Word of God and how enjoined to the wickedness of the world Christendom has become.

Specific to my point, Proverbs Chapter 21 (KJV) is a “contrast between righteousness and wickedness.”  Verse 9 of Chapter 21 reads: “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.”

Proverbs Chapter 27 (KJV) focuses upon “warnings and instructions.”  Verse 15 of Chapter 27 warns: “A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.”

In my 40 years as an ordained minister, I’ve ministered to married couples where the wives claimed to be Christians, but could not tell how or when they accepted Christ as their Savior.  That’s like not remembering the birth of her first child or forgetting where she lives.  Anyone who is truly a born again Christian, remembers the exact circumstances of their life when they accepted Christ as their Savior.

The contentious wife is combative and vindictive.  She speaks evil of those in Church leadership who speak truth to her waywardness.   Her contention and rebellion is openly displayed toward the Pastoral leadership of any church that dares speak to her belligerence.  She speaks ill of her Godly husband, berating him in public and behind his back to his friends and family members, when in reality her complaints are based upon selfish personal desires and her pursuit of earthly treasures.

Wives such as these would do well to read Numbers 12:1-16 KJV and take to heart God’s displeasure with Aaron and Miriam who spoke against Moses with Miriam suffering the greater penalty, because she was “chief in the transgression, or because God would not have his worship interrupted or dishonoured, which it must have been if Aaron had been leprous.” (Benson Commentary)

God takes such behavior seriously.  It is the blind woman who thinks she can shake her fist at God and falsely accuse the servants of God without an eventual day of divine reckoning if she doesn’t repent and accept Christ.

True born again Christians are familiar with Proverbs 31:10-31 KJV, which is the Portrait of the Virtuous Woman.  And while Proverbs Chapter 31 pertains to the wife in the home; the Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of God gives: “Instructions About Prayer and the Place of Women in the Church,”  which is today’s scripture reading.

To the Godly husband who is married to such a woman, I tell you to not respond in kind and pray in faith believing.  I also remind you to not limit God.  In my years of ministry I have witnessed God answer the prayers of those in such relationships that seemed utterly hopeless.  But today these same women are paragons of Godly virtue and righteousness.  Faith is not faith if we do not understand God is not bound by our dictates of time.  Faith is believing when that which we are praying for seems impossible.

READ:
1 Timothy 2:1-15 KJV
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.