Prudent wife: sexist view?

I received and email this morning about the word "prudent" in yesterday's blog, on the prudent wife. Here is what was asked:

Does prudent mean "wise" in this text? In some regards this could be construed as a sexist view. Would it be fair to say in today's society there is room for a 'prudent husband'?

First the word "prudent" is not the word for "wise," though wisdom is in the range of meaning. The Hebrew word is שׂכל śâkal, pronounced, saw-kal'

It is causative in form, meaning "to make or act, to be." This word carried the idea of circumspect, hence intelligent: - to consider, to be an expert, to instruct, to prosper, (deal) prudent (-ly), (give) skill (-ful), or cause to be skillful; have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand (-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise (-ly), guide wittingly.

What an amazing word! To answer the question whether this word given thousands of years ago could be a sexist view in todays economy, the answer is absolutely YES! God has created the sexes to be different, to fulfill different roles, to walk in the image that he created us. And moreover, this sexist view from God's perspective, is absolutely beautiful. But let's first define sexism. In our culture, we have made sexism as a view of superiority over the other. Today there is both male and female chauvinism. When one views themselves as superior, then they have strayed from God's view and plan for the sexes. And before I stray from the original question, the answer is NO, there is no room for a prudent husband! (I will discuss this later)

Allow me to explain. We are made differently. A man is meant to be, and even from the meaning of the word man, "the strong leader and protector of his home." The word woman, carries the idea of "a strong one who keeps the family unified, like glue." God has given each of us innate qualities that enable us to fulfill those roles. In todays culture we have strayed so far from this biblical model. In our quest for self fulfillment, we alter the divine plan. If you reread the list of what makes a prudent wife, you will see that God has equipped her to truly be the glue, the unifying, prudent influence in her home. The NT bears this out when it teaches that wives are to be workers at home, loving their children, loving and submitting to their husbands. Does this sound sexist? Yes. But that understanding is so far from God's plan. It is a beautiful plan that when lived out, we are richly blessed.

If you were to read Titus chapter 2, you would find that where God speaks about a woman's role, he ends by saying, "so that the Word of God be not blasphemed." This speaks volumes! When we fulfill the roles that God has laid out, others are attracted to how we live. Why? Because God blesses our families when we follow his plan. It is that simple. The other day, my mom was in a restaurant where there were five children sitting at a table with their parents. She was so impressed at their behavior that she went up to them and complimented them. The father then proceeded to tell my mom that there were two others who were older and at home as well. He also shared how his wife teaches the children at home. Now this is not to say that just because they teach their children at home that they have it all together; but the point is that my mom was attracted to an unusual phenomenon in public—she was attracted to godly behavior and this attraction occurs most when we are fulfilling our biblical roles.

To become a prudent wife takes years of preparation, a foundation of faith, and solid character. In order to become a prudent wife, it requires one to know God intimately, walking with him second by second. A wife who cultivates a prudent life is truly a gift from God as Solomon taught us: "A prudent wife, is from the Lord." Her focus is on her home, her husband, her children…and then, as a prudent wife, she also sets time aside for herself, to use her skills to help others, to glorify God in an array of opportunities that he has designed. There will not always be children at home…and husbands do eventually grow up…wives, there is great reward that comes as a result of a prudent life.

Does a man really not have an obligation to be prudent? Well in a general sense yes--we all should be prudent and wise. But in the sense that a "prudent wife" is a gift of God, no. doesn't a man have to be prudent? (i will address this more thoroughly in part 2) The Bible does say that he should be wise, self-disciplined, diligent in his work, to love his wife and be willing to die for her, to love her as his own body, to not be bitter against her, to be a protector of his home, to not provoke his children, to be skillful, to be courageous, to always be abounding in the work of the LORD, to be diligent, patient, to be a man of faith, humility, good works, protector of the weak, and to know and walk intimately with our great God. And this is the short list.

When we are fulfilling our roles, the world is attracted to what we have. They will notice…because the fulfilling of God's plan is always attractive and most often different that the cultural norms. It was the same for OT Israel. God gave them all these laws that were different from all of the other nations. They didn't understand why they needed to do and obey all of these unusual rules that now governed their lives. Some didn't and they paid the price. But at first, those who did, caused some of the nations around them to be envious and desire to have what they possessed. Israel, this tiny nation, became the leader and attraction of the known world because of set of laws that governed their lives. The queen of Sheba traveled from another country just to see it for herself…and after she saw, the Bible says it was like taking her breath away. Today, we have been given God's rules to govern our lives. In many ways for many people, they don't make sense. We rationalize why they are not for today…but it is really because of the hardness and selfishness of our heart…we want to live our own way, following our own pursuits, or own plans, and not willing to be governed by our all wise God. When we do submit to his plan for our lives, the joys and blessings are infinite.