Marriage and Money for Christians

Marriage and Money for Christians - Parenting Like HannahResearch just about any study on marital problems and the top topic mentioned is finances. Bring two people into a marriage with two very different ways of handling money and the results can be disastrous.

To be the best possible Christian parent, it is also important to have the best possible marriage. For many, this may mean finally resolving those money issues that cause constant conflict in your marriage. It’s also vital to develop healthy and godly money management skills so you can not only care for your kids, but also help them make wise financial decisions in their own lives.

So, I was interested when offered the opportunity to review the book Money Problems Marriage Solutions by Chuck Bentley. Bentley is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries. Crown was founded by Larry Burkett – the Dave Ramsey of the 1970’s and 80’s. I had heard of Burkett when I was young, so I was curious to see how this ministries financial advice compared to the more familiar Ramsey model.

The biggest difference is that this book seems to focus on viewing the money issues in an effort to improve marriages, not just financial issues. The financial advice is very similar to that found in other similar type books. That’s not a negative – how many habits are there that people need to have to stop wasting money and creating huge debt.

Bentley’s marriage slant I believe is helpful. His aim is to teach spouses how to agree about how they will spend and save money. Of course, he encourages wise decisions, but is more open perhaps to a range within those bounds. He also doesn’t have a lot about how to increase your money through investments. His advice is more basic.

I really appreciate that he does spend quite a bit of time talking about how God views money. It’s very easy for Christian financial books to quickly become secular. This one takes care to find a balance that honors God’s will about how we handle our finances. There are questions and other references at the end of the book, that with a little effort could turn this book into a Bible study on finances combining the practical with the spiritual.

If you are great with money, but find yourself constantly fighting with your spouse about it, this book could still be helpful. It could be potentially life changing for those who are really struggling with handling their money. It’s definitely a useful classic – maybe without some of the bells and whistles of other plans – but sometimes basic is best.

 

 

This book was given to me for free in exchange for my honest review. An affiliate link is included for your convenience.

 

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Thereasa Winnett

Thereasa Winnett is the founder of Teach One Reach One and blogger at Parenting Like Hannah. She holds a BA in education from the College of William and Mary. She has served in all areas of ministry to children and teens for more than thirty years and regularly leads workshops for ministries and churches. She has conducted numerous workshops, including sessions at Points of Light’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the National Urban Ministry Conference, Pepperdine Bible Lectures, and Lipscomb’s Summer Celebration. Thereasa lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Greg, where she enjoys reading, knitting, traveling and cooking.

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