Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. NIV
BE ROUNDLY INFORMED
Years back, there was a sister who would pick only books on marriage if she ever visited the library or bookshop. Due to this habit of picking only books on marriage, she earned the nick name "Life Partner." Reading books about marriage is good and it is one of the things we recommend to singles. However, you don't prepare for marriage well by reading books on marriage only. I said previously that we prepare for marriage as we prepare for life. Marriage is not all there is to life. Don't be so obsessed about marriage and neglect other vital aspects of your life. There are other important aspects of your life you need to be properly informed about to make your marriage work. What about reading books on finance and budgeting? Don't you know that finance is key to romance in marriage? Here we go. Alot of marriages are stormy because either of the spouses know little or nothing about money management. They know so much about love&sex but are ignorant about money little wonder they have money issues at all times. Acquiring simple money management skill through reading may have averted some of their issues.
One of my lecturers in the seminary said, "Know little thing about everything and know everything about little things." That has helped me in my personal life. As a single, invest in your library. Sometimes, not getting a mate may look like a spiritual problem to some but not in all cases. The inability of some to enter a relationship or retain one may be tied to a skill/ knowledge they lack. Do yourself a world of good to learn from books and mentors. So much investment goes into acquiring a degree so that we can be established in a career but only few people study to prepare for life after school- marriage inclusive. Have you read books on parenting? What about health& nutrition? Don't think you will need knowledge in these areas? I have observed that those who succeed in marriage are those who have rounded preparation for life. You can go to a marriage school and still fail in marriage. That's not to berate quality pre marital education. It is important if you can get one but not at the neglect of other aspects of your life. Our lives are in spheres. We must prepare for each sphere of life adequately because they will impact on our marital life in the long run.
In the corporate world, no company will employ an untrained fellow especially for professional roles. Marriage is a professional venture that requires adequate preparation. God frowns at ignorance: "Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst."(Isaiah5:13). When you read, your horizon becomes broad. As a single, read books that centre on the roles, perspective and function of genders. This understanding of gender differences will help you to know how these things play out in marriage. When you're armed with that knowledge, you'll know how to weather certain storms. Further, you can learn about simple financial management, entrepreneurial skills, budgeting, real estate investment, health & nutrition, and parenting. Improve on your culinary skills too. Getting quality information in these areas and others will impact positively on your marriage. We live in a world of useful documented information. Be informed. As you invest in your physical appearance, do not forget to invest in your brain. Your library is a pointer to how serious you are about your life and marital future. Don't enter into marriage ignorantly.
Father, I receive grace to be a life long learner and to invest quality information into my life in Jesus name.