Christian Finances and Marriage - Rules to Live by

When it comes to Christian finances, some mistakenly have the idea that the separation of 'his' and 'hers' continues even after the wedding ceremony. But trying to keep 'his' and 'hers' from mingling leads to all kinds of problems with marriage and money.

In a Christian marriage, there is no separation in what belongs to him or her. It isn't your money or my money, it is our money. In the same way, it is our debt.

As the scriptures say in Genesis, "the two shall become one." This text may actually be referring to physical intimacy but the thought applies to many aspects of married life including money and marriage.

Does that mean it is wrong to have separate banking accounts? The best choice may be to have it both ways. Set up a joint bank account for paying the bills and taking care of financial matters. Set up separate banking accounts for personal spending.

The key is to share important financial decisions. That's because finances within a Christian marriage are all about oneness.

So who should be responsible for the mundane tasks of bill paying and money management? The wife or the husband? While decisions should be made jointly, the logical solution is to let the person in the marriage that has the better skills, knowledge, and maturity handle the details.

There are no hard and set rules about who should be in charge of the budget. Work out a system that works best for your personal situation. However, always keep the goal of oneness and agreement in mind when it comes to money and marriage.

Use Biblical principals as a guide when managing your Christian finances and planning for your financial future. Create multiple streams of income, budget, tithe, and be open with each other when it comes to money. Money and marriage will both flow smoothly when both sides are in agreement and working towards the same goal.