The dream of every married man or woman is to have a home where everything is orderly and where there is prosperity and progress. That is also God’s will for your home but one of the things it takes to achieve that goal is creative management. Good management is another code for happy married life, which some couples ignore and they end up in crisis.

What is management?

Management can be defined as skilful handling of anything put in your care. All the resources you have at your disposal come from God, He entrusted them to you and these includes your time, finances, gifts, talents, assets, etc. You also have the members of the family, the husband, the wife and the children these are great destinies and potentials that must not be wasted. God’s purpose is to make your home a showpiece for all to see.

Improper management is the reason some families never realize that purpose and the members end up being demoralized. Good management of resources qualifies you for more of God’s blessings. To manage your resources properly, you need wisdom. Proverbs 24:3 says :

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established.

When you operate in the wisdom of God, no matter how little the resources in your hand, it will always be more than enough. Wisdom demands that you always set your priorities right. it is lack of discipline and integrity to spend beyond your means?

Just as individuals are peculiar, every home is also peculiar, unique and special. So, even though there are general management rules that we can follow, you require the wisdom of God to devise unique ways of managing your home, because the priorities in other homes may not be the same in your home. This is why you need creativity to be able to meet every need of your home without running helter skelter.

Have a good sense of management Good, managerial principles when ad hired, bring peace and harmony in the home. It will put an end to all your struggles with family finances, brètationships, académic performance of your children and other areas of family life.

You need stock-faking, take stock of what comes into your home from time to time and keep record of your expenses. This will help you to block any leakages and arrest wastage where necessary. A home that is not properly managed ends up in shambles. Good management portrays a good image of the manager.

In any home, the woman is seen as the manager. The husband provides for the home but it is the duty of the wife to manage whatever is available per time to ensure that it is judiciously used. A typical example of a good home manager is the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31.10-31. Every woman who strictly follows the example of the virtuous woman will have every cause to smile. Now, let us see how her role is analysed.

A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman. Who is he who can find her? She is far above rubies or pearls. Proverbs 31:10 (Amp)

This woman is a precious gift to whoever finds her. She is intelligent and capable of handling anything that comes her way.

She seeks out the wool and flax and works with willing hands to develop it. Proverbs 31:13 (Amp)

This verse talks about having the things needed in the house and not only that but managing them properly. You might not have everything but the little you have, with a good sense of management, it becomes adequate.  Your home must be well planned. Take cognizance of lite things that you may think don’t matter.

She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs, she brings her household’s food from a far (country). Proverbs 31:14 (Amp)

The virtuous woman makes sure her family is well catered for. She also makes sure they have the best that could be afforded. She prepares not just any kind of food but a well balanced diet that will bring nourishment to the bodies of her household. This does not in any way advocate extravagance, but good, management of available resources.

There is this saying that ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. When your husband eats good meals at home, he will have no cause to want to eat outside.

She rises while it is yet night and gets spiritual food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. – Proverbs 31.15 (Amp)

The first part of this scripture talks about praying and giving thanks for your family; talking to God on behalf of everyone in your family.

The second part talks about assigning the various duties in the home to your children and any other persons living with you including house-helps who does what and when to do it. This makes the work in the house lighter and quicker to get accomplished.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands, she planted a vineyard. Proverbs 31:16

I want to believe this scripture is applicable to the working wife. You don’t have to wait for your husband to do everything. You also assist him in one or two areas. Let your financial impact be felt by your household.

Some women wait for their husband to provide the money for even salt! But when she is a contributor, the husband looks around the house feeling proud of his wife. This enhances closeness in the relationship.

She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong and firm.  Proverbs 31.17

This verse of scripture talks about the hardworking woman. She gets herself spiritually, mentally and physically fit for her God-given task. She preparers herself for the tasks ahead by being mentally alert and focused. If you discover that you are lacking in this area, you can ask God for strength and He will make it available to you.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing in silk and purple. Proverbs 31.22

Some women feel they must just buy everything they need and want, including the ones they can sit down at home and make, like knitting, pastry foods, poultry, rearing animals, mending their husbands and children’s clothes, If as a woman you don’t know how to do these things, you can learn. When you do some of these things you will save yourself a lot of money, which can be put into other use.

You need Time management!

The greatest duty in life is the control of time. To be anything in life, demands time. For a successful relationship in family life, the importance of time management cannot be overemphasized. It takes time to build a successful relationship.

Don’t spend your time anyhow; otherwise before you know it, the day is gone. Time cannot be stock-piled like raw materials; it is either invested or wasted. Time waits for no one.

If your time is not properly allocated to something specific, it becomes lost. Some couples instead of spending time together, busy themselves with other matters. Hear this, relationship is built over time….

This text is an extract from the book “CODES FOR BLISSFUL MARRIAGE” written by Mary A. Abioye. 
We invite you to read the following article “GOOD UNDERSTANDING“.

HOME MANAGEMENT