Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “wife material”?
Maybe a woman cooked a really good meal, and someone immediately said, “Ah, this one is wife material.”
She knows how to cook.She keeps a beautiful home.She is respectful.She knows how to dress.She takes care of people.
1 million yards wife material.
What exactly does ‘wife material’ mean?
Though this buzzword is not a biblical term in liberal terms, the scripture does not leave us in the dark as to what to look out for in a wife and the type of woman to become to function as a wife.
It is important to note that being a ‘wife’ is a spiritual office not just a status.
In the beginning, when the first marriage was instituted, the woman was brought on a place to occupy an important. God introduced her before he formed her from Adam’s rib and he referred her as Ezer meaning help; a suitable help meet.
This would mean that the wife in a marriage on purpose is meant to be a suitable helpmeet to her husband.
What qualities as defined by scripture then help her to fulfill her mandate as Ezer?
Today, we’ll take Ruth as a case study.
1 A woman of conviction well planted in her spiritual family.
Ruth was a woman of conviction.
[15] And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” [16] But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. [17] Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
Ruth 1:15-17 NKJV
The word of God is the will of God
Ruth made a decision from a place of conviction that changed her life forever and brought her into a blessed lineage. A woman of conviction has spiritual insight and foresight which is a blessing to her husband and children.
A woman of conviction is well planted in a spiritual family; a local assembly as led by God.
. We also see this gift of insight, revelation and conviction in the Proverbs 31 woman.
2 A dedicated submissive woman
We live in an age where the subject of submission seems to be controversial but the scriptures cannot be broken. The word of God is the will of God, beloved.
We see examples consistently in scripture. Ruth submitted to Naomi; Esther submitted to Esther. Ruth followed every instruction to detail as given by her mother-in-law. The God kind of wife material is not heady or rebellious.
Paul as inspired by the Spirit of God gives an express instruction to the God kind of wife.
[22] Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22 NKJV
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
II Timothy 3:16 NKJV
God prepares a woman for submission in her marriage on purpose through submission to her biological and spiritual parents and other constituted authority.
Therefore, it is safe to say a woman who is submissive to authority is a wife material.
3 An industrious woman
Ruth did not sit back lazily waiting for a knight in shining armour. She worked diligently. She served wholeheartedly. She stepped into a field dominated by men and took her place.
She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].(Proverbs 31:13 AMPC)
The God kind of wife material is resourceful and productive. She plans and executes. She also oversees those that work with her. This does not mean she works as a slave but she knows how to deploy resources including human resources to fulfill the will of God.
She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. Proverbs 31:15 AMPC
4 A loving woman
The God kind of wife material is a woman exuding the fruit of the spirit; exuding the character of God – LOVE. She lives by 1 Corinthians 13. She is patient and kind to all. She is not rude, proud or boastful. She is not flawless but she is growing.
You can recognize by her willingness to yield to God’s love always. Love is a key ingredient of a marriage of purpose. Therefore, God’s kind of husband and wife material will imitate the God kind of love; endlessly loving and forgiving.
These qualities among others are important qualities that distinguish the God kind of material. So when next you say ‘wife material ‘, do not just think of a lady that can cook party Jollof rice or a woman who dresses well or kneel to greet elders. All of these are noble but there are deeper qualities to look out for.
As a woman who preparing for a kingdom marriage, it is also important to develop these qualities. God’s prepared singles is a God given structured platform that helps you prepare for a marriage on purpose. Sign up today here.
