We are probably all guilty of deciding (consciously or subconsciously) that dating our spouse is too expensive to do too often. After all, why would we opt for an Italian restaurant and a babysitter when spaghetti from a box and a jar is a fraction of the price?
Hear me out: budgets are a good and necessary thing. But how large is the slice of the pie that investing in your marriage gets? I think it’s time to put your money where your mouth is when it comes to your money and marriage. Here’s how to talk about money in marriage.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:21
Money in marriage
I’m going to keep this post brief on purpose. Listen, we won’t hesitate to spend $200 on flowers and mulch to make our yard pretty and impress the neighbors, but many of us would balk at a $100 date night to woo and connect with our spouse.
Marriage is beautiful and worthy of significant, extravagant time and resources. Now, don’t hear me wrong, don’t spend money that you don’t have to go on some fancy date.
But, some of you reading this have the money—but you’re spending your budget on things that are less important than you marriage.
Marriage is your most important asset. Think about it: Christ chose the marriage relationship to describe his relationship with the church! If we say marriage is the most important earthly relationship in life, let’s be sure to treat it that way and put our money where our mouth is!
Grace Marriage Mission
If you and your spouse don’t have a plan for date nights this month, find some time this weekend to sit down and plan for time together. Ideally, try to go on a date at least once a week.
If money is tight, discuss areas of the budget or of typical spending that could be cut back to allow for investing in your marriage. And if money is very tight, brainstorm together some ideas for dates that are free or cost very little but that would still be fun for both of you (i.e., trade-off babysitting with another couple, then grab some coffee and take a long walk through a nearby park). And by the way, one great way to start talking about money is by figuring out how to spend it on fun date nights!
I want you to consider these Scriptures in light of this post and your marriage.
- Matthew 6:21 > “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Matthew 25:29 > “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
- Luke 12:33 > “Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”
Brad Rhoads is co-founder of Grace Marriage.