In the previous blog, I wrote about Nabal, a foolish husband. I recounted how Nabal endangered the livelihood of his entire household through his foolish actions.
In Christian circles, the concept of the submissive wife has been both preached and ridiculed in secular settings. Unfortunately, the idea of submission has gained a negative reputation. One of the reasons for this is that the church has often overlooked the issue of foolish husbands. While we emphasize the need for wives to be submissive, we fail to remind husbands to seek divine wisdom. This is not the superficial wisdom they might gather with their peers at clubs or local eateries, but the profound wisdom that comes from seeking God through prayer and studying the Bible in their private spaces.
Before categorizing a husband as either foolish or wise, we must first define what constitutes a foolish husband. It’s essential to recognize that everyone has exhibited some foolishness at various points in their lives. Making a foolish decision does not mean a person is entirely foolish. Foolishness is characterized by repeated poor judgment.
To determine whether someone is truly foolish, we should not focus solely on isolated incidents of poor decisions but instead observe their overall mindset. For instance, a foolish mindset is evident when a man believes that cheating on his spouse is only a physical act he can get away with. This perspective neglects the understanding that sex is not just a physical act but also a spiritual one. As stated in 1 Corinthians 6:16, “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.”
The issue with a foolish mindset is that it leads to repeated mistakes, as individuals fail to recognize the errors in their thinking that drive poor actions.
If a man is clearly foolish, respecting and submitting to him can present a significant challenge. That’s why it’s essential for women to prioritize seeking wisdom. As stated in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” To effectively deal with a foolish husband, it is crucial to possess wisdom; otherwise, the potential for destruction is high.
Before we start to analyze our partners to identify the foolishness in their ways, it’s important to first analyze our own ways to see if we ourselves are fools. The thing is, some of us are unable to see our own foolishness, quick to label others as fools, while in fact, we are the fools in the relationship.
The best way to evaluate our foolish tendencies is by observing our mindsets, belief systems, and actions and contrasting them with God’s words and guidance. When we start to recognize our own shortcomings, we must acknowledge our foolishness and seek wisdom from God through prayer. In the upcoming blogs, I will explore ways to identify foolishness in ourselves and in our partners, in line with scripture.
