Worth Her Weight in Gold
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Eccl. 4:9-12)
There is a very interesting story told of the early days of Massachusetts. The only money in use among the people was the gold and silver coins which were made in England and Spain. These coins were very scarce, so that the people had to trade in goods when they wished to make a purchase, instead of being able to pay in money as we do now. So in those days if you wanted to buy a yard of ribbon, or a top, or a ball, you would very likely have paid for it with butter or eggs – or anything you happened to own, which the storekeeper was willing to take. But as the people were growing more and more in number, and trade increased, this kind of bartering grew very troublesome. The people needed some sort of money; and so a law was passed, a kind of coin was decided upon, and Captain John Hull was made mint-master. The largest of these coins had stamped upon them a picture of a pine tree. The common name for these coins thus became “Pine-Tree Shillings.” As payment for his work, it was decided that the mint-master should have one out of every twenty coins he made.
Captain John Hull was an honest man; and although he put aside for himself only one in every twenty coins, his strong boxes got to be very, very heavy. Captain Hull had a daughter; a fine, plump, hearty girl, with whom young Samuel Sewell fell in love. As Samuel was a young man of good character, industrious and honest, Captain Hull readily gave his consent to their marriage. “Yes, you may take her,” he said in his rough way, “and you'll find her a heavy burden enough.”
In due time, the wedding day arrived. There was John Hull, dressed in a plum-colored coat, with bright silver buttons made of the Pine-Tree shillings; the bridegroom, dressed in a fine purple coat and gold lace waistcoat, big silver buckles on his shoes; and last, but by no means least, the fair bride herself, looking as plump and smiling and rosy as a big red apple.
After the marriage ceremony was over, Captain Hull whispered to his men servants, who at once left the room, to return soon with a great pair of scales. Everybody wondered what could be going to happen. “Daughter,” said the mint-master, “get into one side of these scales.” Then turning to his servants, and pointing to a big, iron-bound box, he added, “Bring in the chest.” The servants tugged and pulled at it, but it was all they could do to get it across the floor. Then Captain Hull unlocked it and threw open the cover. The guests stood breathless, for behold! The chest was full of bright, shining Pine-Tree Shillings. “Put them into the other side of the scales, lively now,” said the mint-master, laughing, as he saw the look of amazement on the faces of the people. Jingle, jingle, went the shillings, as handful after handful were thrown in, till, big and plump as she was, the fair young bride was lifted from the floor. “There, son Sewell,” said the honest mint-master, “take these shillings for my daughter's portion. Use her kindly, and thank God for her. It isn't every wife that's worth her weight in silver.” (Adapted from American History Stories, Volume I by Mara L. Pratt)
I don’t know what kind of marriage Samuel Sewell and the daughter of Captain Hull ended up having. But it sure started with a great beginning! Every wife needs to be reminded daily of how much she is worth to her husband. A successful marriage is not a matter of chance. Everyone who has ever been married knows the work and dedication that is necessary to make marriage work. In the passage above Solomon reveals some “secrets” to a successful marriage.
Service: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. Solomon points out that life is so much sweeter when two people work together. As a husband and wife make it a goal to serve each other there is a great encouragement that grows between the two of them. Not only that, as one serves the other their lives become more productive. The first secret to a successful marriage is a commitment to serve each other.
Support: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Solomon teaches that each spouse needs to be there to provide support for each other. Marriage is designed so that we can assist each other in times of need. Every marriage faces times of hurt, crisis, and disappointment. It’s during those times that love and support for one another becomes more precious than air itself. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Solomon isn’t just talking about being cold because our spouse has tugged the blanket to his or her side of the bed. There are times in every marriage when one or the other is going to feel as if they’ve been left out in the cold. Successful marriages recognize those moments as opportunities to warm the other person’s heart with the support they need at that moment.
Security: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A successful marriage is the result of each person doing everything they can to protect their relationship. We live in a sin-stained world that attacks biblical marriage at every opportunity. But there is great strength and security when a couple decides to stand together against the attacks of the enemy.
Salvation: A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Solomon’s first three secrets of a successful marriage relates the horizontal relationship between the man and woman. But if you really want a successful marriage you need to learn the fourth secret. The “cord of three strands” illustrates marriage as it was conceived at creation. It is a binding together of three persons – the man, the woman and God. The relationship between the man and the woman alone is not enough to ensure a successful marriage. There needs to be another dimension – a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As the husband and the wife are united through their faith in Jesus Christ, they find the wisdom and strength to face every obstacle they encounter.
Captain John Hull’s description of his daughter was wonderful but not totally accurate. I’m sure that to his son-in-law, she was worth her weight in gold not just silver. It would be a wise spouse who doesn’t keep this a secret but makes sure their loved one knows the same everyday.
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
There is a very interesting story told of the early days of Massachusetts. The only money in use among the people was the gold and silver coins which were made in England and Spain. These coins were very scarce, so that the people had to trade in goods when they wished to make a purchase, instead of being able to pay in money as we do now. So in those days if you wanted to buy a yard of ribbon, or a top, or a ball, you would very likely have paid for it with butter or eggs – or anything you happened to own, which the storekeeper was willing to take. But as the people were growing more and more in number, and trade increased, this kind of bartering grew very troublesome. The people needed some sort of money; and so a law was passed, a kind of coin was decided upon, and Captain John Hull was made mint-master. The largest of these coins had stamped upon them a picture of a pine tree. The common name for these coins thus became “Pine-Tree Shillings.” As payment for his work, it was decided that the mint-master should have one out of every twenty coins he made.
Captain John Hull was an honest man; and although he put aside for himself only one in every twenty coins, his strong boxes got to be very, very heavy. Captain Hull had a daughter; a fine, plump, hearty girl, with whom young Samuel Sewell fell in love. As Samuel was a young man of good character, industrious and honest, Captain Hull readily gave his consent to their marriage. “Yes, you may take her,” he said in his rough way, “and you'll find her a heavy burden enough.”
In due time, the wedding day arrived. There was John Hull, dressed in a plum-colored coat, with bright silver buttons made of the Pine-Tree shillings; the bridegroom, dressed in a fine purple coat and gold lace waistcoat, big silver buckles on his shoes; and last, but by no means least, the fair bride herself, looking as plump and smiling and rosy as a big red apple.
After the marriage ceremony was over, Captain Hull whispered to his men servants, who at once left the room, to return soon with a great pair of scales. Everybody wondered what could be going to happen. “Daughter,” said the mint-master, “get into one side of these scales.” Then turning to his servants, and pointing to a big, iron-bound box, he added, “Bring in the chest.” The servants tugged and pulled at it, but it was all they could do to get it across the floor. Then Captain Hull unlocked it and threw open the cover. The guests stood breathless, for behold! The chest was full of bright, shining Pine-Tree Shillings. “Put them into the other side of the scales, lively now,” said the mint-master, laughing, as he saw the look of amazement on the faces of the people. Jingle, jingle, went the shillings, as handful after handful were thrown in, till, big and plump as she was, the fair young bride was lifted from the floor. “There, son Sewell,” said the honest mint-master, “take these shillings for my daughter's portion. Use her kindly, and thank God for her. It isn't every wife that's worth her weight in silver.” (Adapted from American History Stories, Volume I by Mara L. Pratt)
I don’t know what kind of marriage Samuel Sewell and the daughter of Captain Hull ended up having. But it sure started with a great beginning! Every wife needs to be reminded daily of how much she is worth to her husband. A successful marriage is not a matter of chance. Everyone who has ever been married knows the work and dedication that is necessary to make marriage work. In the passage above Solomon reveals some “secrets” to a successful marriage.
Service: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. Solomon points out that life is so much sweeter when two people work together. As a husband and wife make it a goal to serve each other there is a great encouragement that grows between the two of them. Not only that, as one serves the other their lives become more productive. The first secret to a successful marriage is a commitment to serve each other.
Support: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Solomon teaches that each spouse needs to be there to provide support for each other. Marriage is designed so that we can assist each other in times of need. Every marriage faces times of hurt, crisis, and disappointment. It’s during those times that love and support for one another becomes more precious than air itself. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Solomon isn’t just talking about being cold because our spouse has tugged the blanket to his or her side of the bed. There are times in every marriage when one or the other is going to feel as if they’ve been left out in the cold. Successful marriages recognize those moments as opportunities to warm the other person’s heart with the support they need at that moment.
Security: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A successful marriage is the result of each person doing everything they can to protect their relationship. We live in a sin-stained world that attacks biblical marriage at every opportunity. But there is great strength and security when a couple decides to stand together against the attacks of the enemy.
Salvation: A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Solomon’s first three secrets of a successful marriage relates the horizontal relationship between the man and woman. But if you really want a successful marriage you need to learn the fourth secret. The “cord of three strands” illustrates marriage as it was conceived at creation. It is a binding together of three persons – the man, the woman and God. The relationship between the man and the woman alone is not enough to ensure a successful marriage. There needs to be another dimension – a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As the husband and the wife are united through their faith in Jesus Christ, they find the wisdom and strength to face every obstacle they encounter.
Captain John Hull’s description of his daughter was wonderful but not totally accurate. I’m sure that to his son-in-law, she was worth her weight in gold not just silver. It would be a wise spouse who doesn’t keep this a secret but makes sure their loved one knows the same everyday.
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
posted by Larry | 1:03 PM
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