The Price of Marriage

We live in a capitalist culture, so money is necessary to survive. A young couple might think they can “live on love,” but Wal-Mart does not take “love” at the checkout counter. Love doesn’t pay the rent or mortgage. And the utility companies couldn’t care less how much you love your spouse; they’re still going to cut off your lights or water if you don’t pay the bill.

Since a large majority of marital problems and divorces can be traced back to money as a root cause, it is important to remember a few key principles:

• Money is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. It is neither moral nor immoral. It is all in how you view money and what role wealth and material possessions occupy in your relationship.
• If you do not find joy and contentment in your marriage without money, you will not find it with money.  Money might mask or suppress certain issues, but problems that existed before you have money will resurface after you have money, and often in worse ways.

And most importantly,

• Money is a spiritual matter. The two biggest indicators of your priorities are how you spend your time and how you spend your money. You can tell me what is important to you, but show me your daily schedule and your checkbook register, and I’ll clearly know what is really most important to you.

I know that what I’m saying is no great epiphany, but typically it is the simple day-to-day things in marriage that we need to be reminded of most often.  Take an honest assessment.  What does the way you spend your money say about your relationship with your spouse? About your relationship with God? Your answer could have both immediate and ongoing consequences for your marriage relationship.

 

There are still a few spots left for the

Marriage Enrichment Retreat Weekend at

Fall Creek Falls State Park Inn,

August 31-September 2.

Call 615-631-2511 for more info.