We live in a consumerist society. It is all too easy to want things and forget how blessed and abundant our lives are in their current state. Like it or not, money is part of our daily lives. Thus, it is not surprising that many marital struggles and conflicts are based on financial burdens.

Money has a tendency to bring out greed and tension in even the most comfortable relationships. If we are not careful, money has the ability to drive a wedge into the solid foundation of a marriage. Spending habits, debt and wage differences are all common sources of money-related disputes. These can be even more amplified when one spouse is unemployed or when a family is living on a single income.

When financial woes seem to be coming between you and your spouse, try to prioritize. Work together to find out the source of the conflict and create a budget that you can stick to. Are there areas where spending could be decreased? If you can work together towards finding the source of the problem, you can begin to come up with a plan to fix it. 

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. —Hebrews 13:5 KJV

Most importantly, do not allow money to control your life or your relationship with your spouse. The people we love are far more important than the money in our bank account. In short, love your spouse not your money.  Money must not be used as a source of guilt or as a bargaining tool. It should never be used against your spouse. Differences in salary or employment status should not matter as long as monetary decisions are made together with mutual love, support and respect. 

When striving to be financially rich means sacrificing time with loved ones, that hurts the entire family. What is wealth without love? If we have all the money in the world and no one to share it with, what good is it? Scripture warns us not to place too much emphasis on monetary wealth. The goods of this world are nothing compared to the riches that await us in our heavenly home.

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. —Luke 16:13 KJV

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. —Proverbs 15:27 KJV

The Lord will provide for all our needs. As Christians we know this; even so, we still fall victim to worry from time to time. Life gets stressful; bills pile up, jobs keep us busy and it is easy to believe that wealth will make us happy. In a way, this is true. Wealth will make us happy, but it is wealth in the Lord, wealth by means of love and faith that will truly fill our life with abundant riches. In a world where success and influence is often measured in dollar signs rather than character, this is easy to forget. When it seems like money troubles are bringing you down remember to look to the Lord for help. He will provide for our needs. He knows what we need before we do and He will never leave us to struggle alone.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:19 KJV

Don’t let something as trivial as money ruin your marriage. The bond between husband and wife is too strong and too important to be threatened by the pursuit of wealth. Without love, we have nothing. If we have love and faith, then we truly have all the riches we need.