Money, Conflict and Marriage

I Chronicles 29:12
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2008 Harold Dinsmore

I mentioned last week that among the top five sources of conflicts in marriage was money.  In fact, it is the top cause of problems in marriage.  Today I would like to cover some basic aspects of finances that will assist all of us in good financial stewardship.  The key to understanding God’s will in finances is having the proper understanding of stewardship.  It is of utmost importance that we grasp the fact that a steward is a manager.  In the Bible a steward is one who managed someone else’s property.  Thus we can come to a basic truth of the Bible.  God has given us what we have to manage from him.  He has authority to entrust us with a little or a lot in this world.

               Everything we have is given to us by God.  I Chronicles 29:12, “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.  In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”  God give us the ability to work and earn our living, be it small or great.  Everything we have is a gift from God.  We are his stewards, his managers if you will.  When it comes to marriage, money can cause conflict faster than you can blink an eye.