A Nagging Wife

A common concern amongst godly and conscientious wives is that of becoming the nagging wife described in Proverbs. You know, the one whose husband would rather dwell on the rooftop than endure her constant dripping. This proverb, however, isn’t a pretense for a husband to justify his abdication simply because he feels nagged. Emotional weakness, whether in husband or wife, should never be set in charge. 

A wife isn’t nagging when she humbly reminds her husband of his duties, whether great–as in providing for the family–or small –as in, “Honey, you forgot to take the trash out.” The sin of nagging Solomon describes is one that slowly but surely, drip by drip, deliberately erodes her commitment to respect her husband. She nips, critiques, challenges, and subverts his authority. In her resentment a desire has arisen for a hollowed out & effeminate husband she can steer without honoring. Put bluntly, she nags in order to turn her husband into a circus sideshow, making him a bearded lady.

Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, sets a striking counter-example. In 1 Kings 1, she confronts David for his apathy in failing to name a successor to his throne. She comes to David, bows in honor to him, speaks plainly and wisely to him, and warns him of the danger he is putting her and Solomon in if he fails to act. This is certainly not a nagging wife; this is a wife worth more than rubies.

A godly wife seeks her husband’s good all the days of her life. She endeavors to be unto him a crown of honor. In being a helper to her husband, she imitates the duties of the church to Christ. In short, a nagging wife is one who delights in resenting her husband for his various faults; while a godly wife faithfully bestows admiration and respect in all she says and does.