Engaged With Expectations: Couples Engagement Devotionsنموونە

Faithful with Finances

My husband, Jeff, and I didn’t talk too much about money until we started planning our wedding. It felt awkward at first, but we had to talk about money to determine the type of wedding we could afford.

Jeff and I made an Excel spreadsheet of everything we had. This included money in bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts like a 401(k), debt, and assets we owned. We also calculated our monthly cash flow by identifying our income and expenses.

After we compiled everything in one place, Jeff and I came up with a plan to manage finances on an ongoing basis. Jeff manages our money, and we discuss together at least monthly at a coffee shop.

Understanding how much money you have is essential before you get married. In Matthew 25:14-30, God calls us to be faithful with everything he’s entrusted us with, including money. But we can’t steward God’s money well if we don’t know what we have.

In Proverbs 27:23-24, the Bible tells us to know the condition of our flocks and to pay attention to our herds. Knowing the condition of your finances is the first step to stewarding God’s money.

When you’re engaged, you’re already thinking about making major purchases together. A wedding, a house, or paying off debt are significant expenses many newlywed couples face. The only way to know what you can afford is to know how much money you have.

If you don’t want money to cause conflict in your marriage, be honest about your finances with your spouse. Discuss any debt you have, and compile all your finances in one place, like an Excel spreadsheet or a website that tracks your money.

After organizing your finances, discuss how you’ll manage finances going forward. Just like other household tasks and responsibilities, talk about who will pay bills and track expenses. While both of you should be involved in making financial decisions, most couples designate someone to oversee finances every month.

Discussion Questions

1. Discuss how you’ll share and compile your finances with each other.
2. Who will manage your finances on a regular basis?
3. How often will you discuss your finances once you’re married?

Prayer

God, thank you for blessing our finances. Show us how to manage and steward our finances as a couple. In Jesus’ name, amen.