Preparing to Be a Help Meet Chapter 4--The Priest

Read Chapter 1. Read Chapter 3.

Chapter Summary

The Priestly type is the most steady of all 3 types of men. He doesn't make snap decisions or tell other people what to do. As a general rule, he will be faithful until the day he dies in the same bed he has slept in since marriage. "This man is content with the wife of his youth." He will not put undue pressure on you, there will be no emotional fires to put out, and you will rarely feel hurried or pressured. The downside is that it can bring about irritation in a woman needing a little adventure to spice up life. Everyone will like him, they will not feel judged, and he will like having people in his home.

A good wife for this type of man will make her home a pleasant place for visitors, she will learn to cook for groups, and her gracious hosting will bring her husband honor. She must be caution not to judge him as being unspiritual because he "lacks fervent religious expression". She will need to be patient for him to make up his mind. Learn how to stand still & listen. She will need to take initiative and be involved in business; walking beside her husband rather than following behind like a Prophet- or Kingly-type. But know this, you are to walk BESIDE your man and NOT to be dominant over him.

"YOU WILL NOT BRING TO MARRIAGE ALL THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE IT INTO A FAIRYTALE COME TRUE. YOU MUST BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO BEND AND MERGE INTO THE NEW IDENTITY. WHEN YOU COME TO UNDERSTAND MEND AS GOD CREATED THEM TO BE, YOU WILL NOT WASTE YOUR MARRIAGE TRYING TO CHANGE YOU NEW HUSBAND INTO WHAT YOU THINK HE SHOULD BE."

Quote from book commenter: "...Notice how fairy tales are never about marriage; they're always about whirlwind romantic courtships. They cover a few years, and then conclude with an "ever after" that, in reality, lasts ten times longer than the fairytale did. Fairy tales are very poor indeed at equipping a girl for a marriage that will compromise most of her years."

"The key is to know your man." So what can you do now to prepare? Learn how to pay bills, make appointments, and entertain guests. Have hobbies that are useful things to learn in managing a home & children. Be busy and productive. Seek Wisdom (Proverbs 111:10; Proverbs 4:7; James 1:5)!!

Moral to the Story
The wife of a Prophet-type needs to be as active helping others as her husband is. This will bring him honor.

A Caution
A Priest's desire is to please. Your impatience or unthanfulness can destroy his vision for serving others, as well as destroy your health.

Your Treasure Chest
*  What are some of the things you need to be studying?
*  Write in your notebook a list of things you are committing to learn in order to be a better help meet to a Priest.

My Challenge to You
*  What idle thing to do you do more than one time per week? Examples: excessive reading, standing in front of the mirror, eating, sitting at the computer, chatting / gossiping with friends, or excessive exercise.
*  Do you know any man who is very much like this Priestly-type?
*  Is your dad Priestly? If so, what could you do as a daughter that would please him?
*  What are some other qualities you think a Prisetly type would want to have in his wife?
*  Read these scriptures to see what God says about idleness and slothfulness (a.k.a "lazy"):

• Proverbs 19:15--slothfulness
• Ecclesiastes 10:18--idle
• 1 Timothy 5:13--idleness
• Proverbs 31:27--idelness
• Ezekiel 16:49--idleness
• Romans 12:9-21--slothful
• Hebrews 6:9-12--slothful

*  What are you doing today to learn skills for the future?
*  If you could do anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?


Read Chapter 5