Money, Trust, and Covenant Marriage
ICS Daily Devotions
1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Marriage is a covenant in the eyes and mind of God. What is God’s will regarding money between married couples? When you enter a blood covenant with someone, you promise to give them your life, your love, and your protection forever, till death do you part. It is a binding, unbreakable agreement based on blood, resulting in the absolute union of the two parties, with all assets, talents, debts, and liabilities shared equally.
The common approach in many marriages is for each partner to keep their own income and contribute to a family pool. However, this reflects a very individualistic lifestyle, with an attitude of “what’s mine is mine, and don’t expect me to contribute when you face a life crisis”. That’s how a contractual marriage often works. Many couples might not even disclose their assets or income to their spouses. Secrecy, vagueness, difficulty reading each other, and avoidance of real conversations about money can foster mistrust between spouses. For example, when a wife stays home to care for the children, she may feel insecure because she has no income. This insecurity can grow as she ages, with fears that her spouse might abandon her when their children leave home, or divorce her at an age when her skills are no longer relevant.
Many single parents who have had bad experiences may have shared their pain and sense of betrayal with their children, saying things like “you must never trust men” or “don’t share your money with your husband because you never know when he will change”. However, it’s nearly impossible to build trust when we’re always on guard and harbour deep mistrust of our spouses.
Therefore, we need to build trust in order to lay a strong foundation for our marriage. Trust is built when we are candid, upfront, and self-revealing about our finances. When we come to see marriage as a covenant, we must do more than simply understand it, but regularly articulate its promises. More than simply talking the talk, we must walk the walk. By consistently applying these principles, our marriage will become stronger, deeper, and more fulfilling than we ever thought possible!
The wedding vows we uttered are a declaration of covenantal love. However, for many of us, we seem to have lost the idea that our words represent us; keeping our word no longer matters, and convenience takes precedence over integrity. We need to remember that our spouses and we are one flesh. Our marriage is a sacred blood covenant witnessed and guaranteed by God Himself. It is unconditional, unlimited, and enduring. A marriage covenant is more about trust than terms, character than convenience, and giving than receiving. It reflects the very character of God.
Reflection: Am I building trust with my spouse through honesty, transparency, and integrity in financial matters? Are fear, insecurity, or past family experiences affecting how I view money and trust in marriage?
Sermon Series: As a Man Thinks in His Heart So is He
