proverbs 31 husband

Yesterday I was asked if I knew about the Proverbs 31 Husband. One usually here's all about the Proverbs 31 Wife/Woman, since that's what most of the chapter is about. Here's the description of the husband:

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. - Proverbs 31:11 (ESV)

A lot of my mistakes in the last 7 years would have been avoided had I heeded/knew this scripture before yesterday.

Then I read the post below this morning. Take heed men.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(Author: David Mathis from Desiring God Blog)

The apostle Peter writes,

Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

This is strange at first glance. How does caring for your wife connect to having unhindered prayers?

Here's Wayne Grudem's challenging commentary:

So concerned is God that Christian husbands live in an understanding and loving way with their wives, that he "interrupts" his relationship with them when they are not doing so. No Christian husband should presume to think that any spiritual good will be accomplished by his life without an effective ministry of prayer. And no husband may expect an effective prayer life unless he lives with his wife "in an understanding way, bestowing honour" on her. To take the time to develop and maintain a good marriage is God's will; it is serving God; it is a spiritual activity pleasing in his sight." (1 Peter, 146)

Christian husbands shouldn't feel that time given to their wives is "time away from the real ministry." Time invested with our wives is time well spent. It's God's will—"a spiritual activity pleasing in his sight."