1 Timothy 5:8 – But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially members of his household, he has denied his faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
Luke 14:28 – Suppose one of you wants to build a tower, won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
Proverbs 24: 3-4 – By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established; through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures…
We are super excited about weddings. Whether we are the ones getting married or some couple goals are getting married. what we never really think about is the “bills” that come with the territory. Finance is a major determinant of harmony and peace in a home. Marriage is sweet when you have your peace of mind. But money matters can always steal this peace when allowed.
“In the beginning, it was not so”. For every time Jesus used this phrase, it was because there was an aberration of the marriages after the beginning.
In the beginning, God created them male and female and named him, Adam (Gen 1:27). In chapter 2:18, God saw it best to bring the woman out of the man and give them dominion. They were partners in God’s orchard. But after the fall, everything changed. It became a curse for the man to till the ground and get food through hard labour and for the woman to bear children in pain. The other curse is that the woman would want to control her husband but he will dominate her.
Every time a woman keeps her money away from “her” husband, she is operating under the curse. Every time the man starves his wife of money or hides his income and starve her of love and care, he is simply operating under the curse.
Christ died to break the curse, He died so that marriage at the beginning can be restored. God’s plan is that husband and wife will be naked and not be ashamed. The question of who pays what bill would not arise if both are naked.
In marriage, they both own everything. It isn’t my money nor his money, it is our money. Submit everything at each other’s feet and meet the needs as both agreed. No giving of money or material to each extended relative without agreeing. To do anything secretly is to breed Sin.
If you can give your body and womb to your husband, why should money be difficult? Mammon is a spirit but you can break its hold over you as you cry to God. When money no longer has a hold over you, it wouldn’t dictate the tone of your marriage or define your self-worth.
Marriage is a partnership where we are supposed to grow the kingdom of God. One shall chase 1000 and two shall chase 10,000. It is God that gives the power to make wealth. Choose God, choose your spouse first, choose love that will never pass away.
Your partner learns as you both do the budgeting, savings, investment and spending together. Teach him or her if they lack financial intelligence. Pay for them to learn from a coach, it is investing in each other.
Ojonoka Zekeri Abikiaje 