Unity: Finances

Thanks to everyone for their patience and encouragement as we endured a set-back without a working computer in the house for quite some time! We are now up and running and this is our "trial post" to see how everything goes!

In the last post, we were discussing the importance of unity in parenting and discipline. This post is on unity in finances. This seems so appropriate to be coming up at this time since it is the busiest time of the year when the most money is spent! Did you know that the average person spends $600 at Christmastime? Wow! That is a lot of money! We know of many couples who spend much more than that on one another this time of the year.

When we first got married, this was an area we struggled in. One of us was a spender and one a saver. For anyone who knows us well, you can probably guess which one was which. Unfortunately, finances are the biggest cause for discourse in a marriage and the #1 reason for "irreconcilable differences" in divorces. We had to set some ground rules...and fast. There is probably, in our opinion, no easier problem to solve in marriage than financial expectations. Here's what worked for us...

1) Set a limit on how much you can spend without needing to consult one another. For us, this was $50. Anything more than that, unless it was an absolute emergency, was to be brought to the table and discussed.

2) Know exactly what the bills are and when they are due. It has helped us to have someplace where we can both keep track of the bills and how much they are. We both have bills that we are responsible for paying, but it's good sense to make sure both spouses know how much is going out each month.

3) Know how much you make monthly, combined. Plan your budget accordingly.

4) Put extra money away like you never had it. You won't miss that extra tax check or surprise bonus money if you just automatically slide it into savings or into your investments. We never plan anything around getting extra money.

5) Don't spend impulsively. Spend some time thinking whether or not you really need something and chances are, if you don't, you'll talk yourself out of it.

We have never set an official budget for ourselves, but knowing what will always go out and what should be coming in helps give us an idea for where we can afford to spend and when we need to save.

In the Bible, King Solomon acknowledged that working and laboring all day under the sun was for vanity. But he also noted that it was good for a man to sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor (Eccl. 2:24; 8:25). There is a lot of joy to be found in enjoying the abilities and blessings that God has given us!

The Bible also discourages laziness saying "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2 Thess 3:10) It also says that a man who doesn't provide for his family is worse than one who doesn't believe. "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Tim 5:8)

When planning on how to use your money, remember that it comes from God and our lives should be free from the love of money and always wanting to have more, more, more! Hebrews 13:5 says "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God is the most important assest we have!

We should also remember that when we are blessed with having money, we should not forget those who are less fortunate or the needs of the church! Acts 20:35 says "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Just remember that how we use our money is an extension of ourselves and will be key in how others view us. "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works..." (Titus 2:4)

If you find yourself in money trouble, we suggest finding a strong Christian family who can model good stewardship of their money to mentor you into better habits. Don't make yourself an unnecessary statistic by making poor financial decisions!

Prayer: "God, thank you for the abundant blessings you give us. Please help us to learn or continue to be good stewards of those blessings. Help us to be generous in helping those less fortunate and contributing to the work for your kingdom."