Money and Marriage

There have been many sermons preached and articles written about the church being the bride of Christ as portrayed in marriage. (Ephesians 5:21-27)  Israel was pictured as God’s unfaithful bride in the Old Testament. (Jeremiah 3:20) These pictures not only help us understand God’s love for the church and Israel, but also set a high standard of what marriage should look like.

We see in marriage, the relationship of the church with Christ illustrated.  As a wife takes on her husband’s name in a traditional marriage so does a believer takes on a new name (Christian - Acts 11:26) in joining the family of God.  And just as the bride is called out of her birth family to join her husband in creating a new family, so is the new believer called out (ekklesia) of the world (John 15:19) in joining the family of God.  There are many illustrations of the relationship of Christ with the church seen in marriage.

But recently Compass – Finances God’s Way released an updated Bible study on the role that money plays in a Christian marriage (Money and Marriage – God’s Way).  As I was reviewing this excellent study it made me aware of not only how God can use money in marriage to bring a husband and wife closer, but how He can use money in our marriage to bring couples closer to Himself.

Here are just a few ways that I was reminded that money in marriage can bring us closer to Christ:

Husbands and wives need to be on the same page financially. This is not easy due to the fact that two different individuals with two different financial upbringings and perspectives on money are now living as one financially.  The only way that this can be accomplished is through sacrifice, selflessness, and putting each other’s needs and desires ahead of our own.  All of these are Christ like characteristics that we need to develop (Philippians 2:5-11).

Financially marriage is very different than being single.  Look at any guideline budget and compare the percentages recommended for a single adult as compared to that same age adult that is married with children.  When we become followers of Christ, our life as a believer in Christ will be much different (Romans 12:2).  Christ calls us to a holy living and not being conformed to the world. (1 Peter 1:15).  Just as marriage will drastically change the way we spend money so will our salvation change the way we spend our lives.

Marriage requires us to financially leave our parents and unite with our spouse. (Genesis 2:24)  Instead of going to mom and dad to get financial help or pay our bills, we need to look to our spouse.  Once we accept Christ as our savior our faith and trust is not in this world it is in a God who is faithful (Proverbs 3:5-6).

For any marriage to succeed there must be communication.  And one of the areas in marriage where communication is most important is in the area of finances.  From setting up our budgets, goals and spending plans there is nothing more important than communication.  As we walk with Christ on our daily journey of sanctification, there is nothing that is more important than prayer or communication with God. (Philippians 4:6)

Yes, I believe that God intends married couples to use money – even challenges with money and even crises with money to not only bring them closer together but also closer to God.