ONE of the reasons why couples fight is money.
It can be very stressful and if not handled well, it can mean disaster for a marriage. Even couples who have been married for years are not spared from this ongoing issue but they have identified helpful principles that every married couple should consider when it comes to money matters.
These principles help married couples stay focused on the main issue rather than its emotional effects as they also open their minds to the right perspective when it comes to handling money.
Let’s check out these five principles:
- Stewardship
When couples acknowledge that they are mere stewards of God’s provisions (including their children), they will concede to God being the sole provider for everything, thus, they develop the mentality of “we own nothing, everything is God’s.”
If stewardship is the foundation of a couple’s financial life, everything falls into place, from spending habits to developing a heart of generosity. Stewardship when understood by heart can address all other emanating issues about money among couples.
2.Outlook
It is important that couples share the same perspective. What does having more money or less money mean in your marriage? Does having more money mean your marriage can be a source of blessing for others? Does having less money mean working together as team to look for more alternative ways to get more?
Your viewpoint on your finances needs to be in the same direction as couple so you can both agree on the same measures that can help address your money concerns.
- Oneness
Learn to be on the same page as your spouse. Be one in understanding that you have been given the privilege to be good stewards and to be good providers. Remind each other to be on the same page every day. If one seeks to be a good steward of that which he or she has been provided with while the other chooses to spend money haphazardly, then there is a need for recalibration. Always aim for unity in your marriage.
- Priority
It is important for couples to draw the line between wants and needs. It is important that they both agree on what is considered as a need or simply a want, this way, everything becomes clear when it comes to prioritizing the purchases.
- Gratitude
When couples are grateful, the entire family reflects it and the way the finances are handled reflects it. They begin to focus on the blessings they receive instead of the lack or the shortage. A thankful heart makes a thankful home.
THINK. REFLECT. APPLY.
What other principles have you learned and applied when it comes to handling finances in your marriage? Why is stewardship an important foundation for all other principles in managing finances among married couples? Among the five principles, what is the most common reason for your misunderstanding when it comes to money matters? How can you address this?