"Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land" (Prov. 31:23).
The behavior of a wife inevitably reflects upon her husband. She can either bring him praise from others by her actions, or she can bring him ridicule. Likewise, how the Christian behaves will have repercussions on how others consider the person of Christ. If you are a hypocrite, others will treat the name of Christ with disdain and scorn. If you are judgmental and unmerciful, the world will despise, not only you, but the church and the head of the church—Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, if you live righteously and faithfully before God and men, the Lord will cause even your enemies to live at peace with you. Such was the case with Abraham. He lived honorably before men, and they respected him and his beliefs. In the same way, Solomon’s virtue and wisdom earned the respect and praise of foreigners. The Queen of Sheba visited Solomon’s court to hear the wisdom of this great king. The wisdom of God manifested in Solomon caused even the queen to praise the Lord: “How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness” (1 Kings 10).
Daniel’s faithfulness and ability to interpret dreams also brought forth praise from the mouth of a pagan ruler. He interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and gave God the credit: “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future.” Daniel did not bring attention to himself, but gave God the glory for his abilities. Nebuchadnezzar responded by honoring Daniel and saying, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings” (Dan. 2:47).
The testimony of a life in subjection to Christ, actions that reflect the righteousness and glory of our Lord, and behavior that conforms to the law of God, will bring forth praises even from the lips of unbelievers. Not only what we say, but how we live, will bring glory to God and serve as a witness to a lost world. Let your life reflect the virtue, the diligence, the wisdom of the Proverbs 31 woman, of Abraham, Solomon, and Daniel, and surely you will be a crown to your heavenly Husband.
Does your behavior prejudice others against Christ, or does it give honor and praise to Him? Do your actions correspond with your profession? When you sin, do you stop and think about how your transgressions reflect upon the name of Christ? Let the honor of Christ be a motivation for you to act uprightly before men and God.
