Husbands Wear Your Crown

What a statement. We as husbands are to wear our crown. I will not shy away from that when I consider my crown.

“⁴An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.”

— Proverbs 12:4 (ESV)

See here what is my crown, my wife. And Lori is certainly a/the crown to wear. When we go out, she is the best of me. People think of her before they think of me. I am Mrs. Flisowski’s and/or Lori’s husband in most circles. She is the thing that makes me something in this world.

I find it interesting that Lori is Lori with those that I know, yet I am her husband with those that she knows or who know her. I am the tag along with her and she is the better of me when with me. She is the crown that makes me someone. She is what people see first when they see me, and a beautiful sight she is.

Before you ask, no, everything in our home is not always in order. We do not function in an environment without any conflict. We argue plenty. We even mention to one another and others that we do not always like one another. But the love I have for her and she for me does not quit. She knows that I would do anything for her and I know the same. She is the object of my affection and is rightfully identified as my crown.

What is your wife to you? Is she the woman behind you? What is she was the crown that others see when they see you?

Value and Praise Your Wife

I am so glad I have decided to study the word “wife”. This study is reminding me of her and all that she means to me as God intended.

“⁴An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,” – Proverbs 12:4a (ESV)

Lori is my crown. I am her other half. She is my better/best half. Each day, I awake to ensure that she has what is needed for her to make it through. I do not ask for a lot for myself, as she is really all that I need.

“’²⁹Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.’

³⁰Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.”

— Proverbs 31:29-31 (ESV)

Lori is to be praised for all that she does. She provides for the home and ensures that we are well fed and kept. She minded our boys and reared them to be loving men. Lori is the best of me and I praise her for all that she has done.

I know that I have failed in my recognizing of all that Lori has done for me and our home, but I also know that Lori knows how much I love and care for her. I must do better to place her as my “crown” and praise her for the work and love she does/has for me. I value and praise Lori, my wife.

How does your wife fit into your world? Is she there to complete a task and be the trophy for you? What if she was the best of you and you valued and praised all that she does?

Righteousness Rewarded

“⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:8 (ESV)

Paul was the LORD’s great evangelist. He did not work of God without concern for himself as was evident by the amount of time he was imprisoned and also executed for that work. He only looked forward to His time in heaven and knew that God appreciated his work and would recognize him for it when he arrived in heaven.

I know, I have been saying that we are not given the right to declare ourselves righteous, and yet here is Paul indicating that he would receive the “crown of righteousness”. How can he declare it so? Well, he is not. Paul knows the work that he has done and the dedication to the LORD he has and therefore is declaring that as God sees it He will declare it so. Paul was not doing the work to get the reward, he was doing the work as he had already been rewarded.

Paul knew that the chains of persecution would be coming off. They were there due to his dedication to the LORD. He was well aware of the way to have them removed in this world, and yet he persisted with his love and dedication and work to God. Paul worked for the LORD all the way to his death and never gave in to the world.

I wonder if I have dedicated myself to the LORD as Paul did. I know that I have not endured the same type of persecution as Paul, although it does still exist. I wonder if I am and will be dedicated to the work to my death and never give in to the world.

I can only do the work that God gives to me. I may not be traveling the world to spread the gospel, but I can do so here where I am. Our church mission is to have “A gospel movement that reaches every person in the hill country and is carried to the ends of the earth.” And from this I get that my role is to reach everyone I can where I am. I will have the chance to reach the one to carry it forward, I am to be focused on the work here where I am.

Yes, because of this medium my evangelism may reach you where you are. I am grateful for the chance to share with each of you. I am focused on my study of God’s Word and declaring my thoughts. In this world today, that affords me the chance to get those thoughts to the world. This is me doing the work where I am. This is me reaching you who has the chance to carry the gospel where you are. I know that not everyone is next door to me and that some are being reached all over the globe. To you I say spread the gospel where you are.

My actions will be rewarded by the LORD. I will be awarded that which He declares. I can only do the work here and know that I have done that work and rely on God to see and recognize as He sees fit when I arrive in heaven.

What work are you doing? Are you giving in to the world? What if you were to just do the work, knowing that you will be recognized and awarded for that work when you arrive in heaven?