"I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man." (Proverbs 24:30-34) We can learn much from observation. This passage in Proverbs tells how a man learned the consequences of being slack. The garden that he looked at showed signs of neglect. He observed thorns, weeds, and the wall that protected the garden from animals was falling down. One thing he never mentions is fruit. There is no indication that the garden was producing anything worthwhile. Marriages can be the same as this garden, producing thorns and weeds but nothing that brings fulfillment and joy. Do you have thorns and weeds in your marriage relationship? Are there unmet needs and expectations? Is there bitterness or unforgiveness? These thorns and weeds of a marriage can choke out fruitfulness and fulfillment God intended for the marriage relationship. What we need is a plan for routine maintenance in the marriage garden. Here are a few tips. Make sure to keep the lines of communication open. Discuss your needs and expectations often. If you do not pull weeds in the garden each day, they will soon take over and you will have more work later. Fertilize what you grow. What makes a marriage grow? 1. Liberal applications of appreciation 2. Water regularly with praise 3. Enrich the soil with acts of kindness. Do you have work to do? Get busy, before someone starts talking about your garden.
