Forsaking all others includes all others. You can also evaluate whether friends hold too high a value in either of your lives. I’ve had to work with men who give way too much time to a set of guy friends or friend by scheduling hunting and fishing trips or golf outings. He had to adjust priorities. It didn’t mean he had to stop his activities. He just had to adjust his activities. I’ve had to deal with a “golf widow.” That’s what a wife is called when her husband golfs all weekend, most weekends. Her husband adjusted to one time per week and that felt fine to everyone.
Women can also overprioritize friendships and/or social activities such as making excessive or long phone calls, Facebook perusing, attending athletic activities and volunteering. She can over involve, over value, and over invest her heart and time in these relationships. In other marriage books, I’ve written about the value of same-gender relationships but there must be balance.
Church family is also another set of people we must balance in our life. I’m a church-loving guy. I love going to church. Through the years Lisa and I have been involved in various forms of groups, activities, and leadership positions. However, some couples or individuals can overprioritize the church or “their ministry.” For all involved, forsaking all others also means that you find balance with how you dedicate your time to your church.
Community is also another group of people we need to evaluate. Examples of community are volunteering or just participating in community events. Again, in balance this is healthy and great for a couple to enjoy or contribute in events locally or even globally. You must evaluate your priorities in the area of volunteering and community and create a balance so you can keep your promise to forsake all others.