day no. 16,238: give with intention, not concession

Proverbs 31:2-3

What are you doing, my son?

What are you doing, son of my womb?

What are you doing, son of my vows? 

Do not give your strength to women,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

Strength cannot be taken away, but it can be given away. Instead of being treasured, it can be squandered. Instead of being gathered up to protect others, it can be scattered about to appease others. Instead of being employed for sacrifice, it can call in sick for ease. Instead of standing by a "No," it can hide behind a "Yes." Instead of being kept and respected, it can be given away and ashamed.  Strength taken for granted is given too readily.

That said, strength was meant to be spent. You can spend it on faithful endeavors or worthless pursuits. If it is spent for someone else, it builds muscle. If it is spent on oneself, it atrophies. Strength is meant to be given with intention, not by concession. The advice here is to use your strength and position for the good of those for whom you have taken responsibility. Do not merely give your strength away through thoughtless delegation. Do not surrender it in order to avoid a conflict. Retain your strength so that you can leverage it for the good of those you love and for whom you have the obligation to love and provide.

If you give your strength away, you will have to ask for it back, but you can never have it back in the same way. A woman cannot follow someone she can lead. She cannot respect someone who pines for her respect. She will not admire a man who needs her to punch his man card.

All that to say. Men, do not give your strength away. She doesn't want you to. Even if she thinks she does. Even if you think she does. Don't do it. Kingdoms collapse because strength is taken for granted and given away as ransom.