The passage from Proverbs 4:25-27 shows King Solomon’s advice for meeting goals. Essentially, it comes down to knowing where you’re going, setting a straight path to get there, and not getting sidetracked. That’s the approach we need to take if we’re going to meet our goals for marriage.

How do we make time? By eliminating some of the good things, we are doing so that we will have time for the best. Life’s meaning is not found in money, sports, shopping, academic success, or career achievement, as good as some of those things are. It is found in relationships – first with God, and then with people. If you are married, nothing is more important than your marital relationship. It is the framework in which God wants you to invest your life and experience His love. The husband is told to “love” his wife, and she is instructed to “honor” him. How better to love and honor each other than to make time for each other?

Take time to pray, asking God to help you identify what needs to be done in your schedule to improve your relationships. Ask for His help in determining what is good busyness and what is a distraction from other things you might be doing.

Discus or reflect on these questions:

What events exist in your schedule that could be dropped without consequence?

What regular chore could you begin to do together (or occasionally skip) to allow more time together?

Consider these passages for further study on Time:

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Luke 14:28 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

Ephesians 5:15-17  Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Proverbs 4:25-27 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the^[a] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.

Great thoughts of Gary Chapman. One is to make you think of more ways to spend time with your loved ones and make it meaningful. Share in the comments one you remember or would like to plan.

Moses said of God: “He will love you and bless you, and he will give you many children. He will give fertility to your land and your animals. When you arrive in the land he swore to give your ancestors, you will have large harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats” (Deuteronomy 7:13).

Israel’s reciprocal covenant relationship with God is depicted in the following words of Moses: “If you carefully obey all the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons – the early and late rains – so you can bring in your harvest of grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat” (Deuteronomy 11:13-15).

Thank God for the fact that He makes covenants with His people, despite our unfaithfulness. Thank Him for the blessings your family has received as a result of His goodness. Ask Him to give you the discipline and strength to remain faithful to Him.

Take time to reflect on these questions:

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in remaining faithful to your commitment to the Lord?

For me, it’s being consistent and finding a church to join. It sounds easy for some, yet this can be a challenge when you look at who helps you study the Lord’s word.

What are your strategies for staying faithful to your spouse?

For me, it’s listening and seeing where they are coming from.

How could you adapt some of those strategies to your relationship with God?

Consider these passages for further study on faithfulness:

Exodus 19:5-6 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation. ‘ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

Deuteronomy 7:12-15 “If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the Lord your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with w. As he promised with an oath to your ancestors. He will love you and bless you, and he will give you many children. He will give fertility to your land and your animals. When you arrive in the land he swore to give your ancestors, you will have large harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats. You will be blessed above all the nations of the earth. None of your men or women will be childless, and all your livestock will bear young. And the Lord will protect you from all sickness. He will not let you suffer from the terrible disease you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict on all your enemies!

Jeremiah 7:23 This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!

Great thoughts of Gary Chapman. Be able to focus on love first and everything will come into place.