You need the Bible. Your spouse needs the Bible.
So what can you do to help one another be consistent in studying the truths of God’s Word?
The problem with being consistent in learning the Scriptures is that life happens. As parents, free time is a distant memory. Maybe you woke up earlier to have a quiet time, but your newborn decided to wake up early too. Or perhaps you planned on reading your Bible this afternoon, but the children demanded your attention.
In the Book of Acts, we read about a couple who apparently loved each other and loved God’s Word. They not only loved reading and understanding God’s Word, they loved applying God’s Word which is evident in the description given of them.
Acts 18:24-26 A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexan
drian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the way of God to him more accurately.
Rom. 16:3-5a Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches. 5 Greet also the church that meets in their home.
So how did this super-couple do it? We don’t know much more about their story or how they grew so much in Christ, but I do have a hunch though. I imagine they used the greatest gift of accountability that God had given them – each other. Many people fear the concept of accountability. We don’t like people looking over our shoulders and checking in on us because it makes us feel shameful when we don’t hold up our end of the bargain.
Your spouse is your greatest accountability partner.
Is it embarrassing if your spouse is reading God’s Word consistently and you are experiencing difficulty locating your copy? Of course it is, and that is the point. Accountability gives you an extra reason for reading God’s Word, and in the hectic pace of life, we need that extra push on our worse days.
A word of caution: people rarely respond well to guilt or force. Your modeling of your own time in the Scripture is the best encouragement you can give to another. You don’t want your spouse reading the Bible because you want him or her to read the Bible.
Don’t guilt them into obligation – encourage them for motivation.
Today, talk to your spouse about helping each other’s quiet times. It might mean that you each have different times throughout the days when you are responsible for the kids to allow each other uninterrupted time. It might mean that you read some together or just develop a reading plan together.
If you want to reach the goal of being consistent in God’s Word, why attempt on your own when you could do it with the best partner you could ever ask for?
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
