In what ways can you apply Proverbs 7:20 to strengthen your marriage? Setting the Scene Proverbs 7 paints the tragic picture of adultery. Verse 20 highlights the vulnerable moment: “He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.”. A husband’s prolonged absence, no accountability, and misplaced priorities create space for sin. From that warning, we gain practical ways to fortify our own marriages. Key Observations from Proverbs 7:20 • Prolonged separation • Preoccupation with business (“a bag of money”) • Lack of clear communication about return time • Opportunity for temptation in the spouse left behind • An implicit call to guard marital fidelity Application 1: Guard Against Prolonged Absence • When possible, limit time away; schedule shorter trips or virtual check-ins. • If distance cannot be avoided, plan reunions: mark the calendar, purchase tickets early, count down together. • Echo 1 Corinthians 7:5—“Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you.” Regular togetherness is God’s design for protection. Application 2: Cultivate Transparency • Share itineraries, lodging info, and daily plans before leaving. • Keep location services or accountability apps active. Transparency builds trust (Proverbs 31:11). • Exchange honest expectations: frequency of calls, video chats, devotion times. Clarity closes gaps the enemy might exploit. Application 3: Invest Time and Resources at Home • The traveler in Proverbs 7 carried money for himself. Flip the pattern: invest first in your spouse—flowers, child-care help, date nights—before business expenses. • Budget for a “reconnection fund” that finances getaways together after separations. • Proverbs 5:18-19 reminds us to rejoice in each other; tangible generosity fuels that joy. Application 4: Foster Mutual Accountability • Establish same-sex accountability partners while apart; share travel plans and temptations. • Couples’ accountability: send a brief nightly summary—victories, struggles, prayer requests. • Hebrews 13:4 underscores God’s judgment on immorality; healthy accountability keeps the marriage bed undefiled. Application 5: Keep Your Covenant in View • Wear wedding rings proudly; let them preach fidelity when you cannot. • Save a photo of your spouse as phone background; constant visual reminder of vows. • Memorize Ephesians 5:25, 28 and recite it when tempted: “Husbands, love your wives… He who loves his wife loves himself.” • Write or record promises to each other before a trip; revisit them daily. Application 6: Prioritize Spiritual Connection • Start and end calls with Scripture—perhaps reading the same Psalm each night. • Text a verse at lunch; Ecclesiastes 4:12 assures, “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Your shared walk with Christ is that third strand. • Fast or pray simultaneously during agreed-upon hours, reminding each other that distance cannot sever spiritual unity. Closing Encouragement The husband in Proverbs 7:20 left a void; safeguard your marriage by filling any potential voids with presence—physical, emotional, spiritual. Guard time together, practice radical transparency, invest sacrificially, hold each other accountable, and anchor every mile of separation in covenant love. When you do, distance becomes an opportunity to deepen devotion rather than drift apart. |
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