Navigating finances in your first year of marriage without killing the romance.

Congratulations! You’ve said your vows, smashed the cake in each other’s faces, and are finally settling into the rhythm of married life.

But now, reality is setting in. You have two different bank accounts, two different spending habits, and maybe two very different ideas about what a “budget” actually means. Maybe you’re the saver, and they’re the spender. Maybe one of you has student loan debt, and the other has a fear of debt.

Money consistently ranks as one of the top sources of stress in a marriage. But as believers, we have a secret weapon: we don’t view finances the way the world does. We view them through the lens of Scripture.

Here is how to build a financial foundation for your marriage that honors God, strengthens your unity, and sets you up for a lifetime of ministry together.

1. The Heart Check: It’s Not Your Money

Before you open a single spreadsheet or download a budgeting app, you have to deal with the heart posture.

In the world, money is about independence, security, and status. In the Kingdom, money is about stewardship.

Scripture to stand on:

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” — Psalm 24:1

This verse changes everything. It wasn’t your money before you got married, and it isn’t theirs now. It is God’s money. You and your spouse are simply co-managers of His resources.

When you stop looking at your spouse as a competitor for resources and start looking at them as a teammate managing God’s assets, the tension immediately lowers. You are no longer asking, “How do I protect what is mine?” Instead, you are asking, “Lord, how do we manage what is Yours?”

1. The Unity Principle: Two Shall Become One (File)

Genesis 2:24 tells us that a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. This isn’t just a physical or emotional truth; it’s a practical one.

If you are “one,” can you have “his” debt, “her” savings, and “our” rent? It creates a divided house.

Practical Application: While some couples prefer a “yours, mine, and ours” system, I highly encourage young couples to fully merge their finances. This doesn’t mean you lose all autonomy, but it means you face everything together.

• The Debt Issue: If one of you brings debt into the marriage, it is now our debt. Romans 13:8 says, “Let no debt remain outstanding.” If you have student loans, attack them together. It might not be “fair” that they pay for your degree, but marriage isn’t about fairness—it’s about sacrifice (Ephesians 5:21). · The Income Issue: If one of you makes more money, remember the early church in Acts 4:32: “No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” A higher income isn’t a reward for the “smart” one; it’s a tool for the family to use for God’s glory.

1. The Budget: Giving Every Dollar a Mission

Proverbs 21:5 tells us, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” God is a God of order, not chaos. A budget is simply a plan.

Sit down together once a month for a “Money Date.” Light a candle, pour a glass of wine or a cup of tea, and look at the numbers. This isn’t a time for criticism; it’s a time for teamwork.

The Christian Budget Priorities:

1. First Fruits (Giving): Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.” The first check you write, or the first dollar you allocate, should be to the local church or Kingdom work. This sets the tone that God is the priority, and everything left over is a blessing to steward.
2. Saving (The Ant Principle): Proverbs 6:6-8 praises the ant for storing provisions in summer. You should be paying yourselves (savings) before you pay for entertainment.
3. Generosity: Leave a little wiggle room in the budget to be spontaneously generous. Maybe it’s buying coffee for the person behind you, or helping a friend in need. 1 Timothy 6:18 reminds us to be “generous and willing to share.”
4. The Conversation: No Secrets

One of the most dangerous phrases in a Christian marriage is, “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.”

You are a team. Secrecy breeds mistrust. If you are tempted to hide a purchase or a debt, remember Adam and Eve in the garden. The moment they hid, the relationship broke.

Commit to this vow: “No financial surprises.” If you want to buy something over a certain amount ($50? $100?), you talk about it first. It’s not about asking for “permission”; it’s about honoring the unity of the partnership.

1. The Goal: Building a Legacy, Not Just Wealth

Finally, don’t let your financial discussions stop at retirement. As Christians, our eyes are fixed on eternity.

Why are you building wealth? Why are you getting out of debt?

• Is it so you can live in a bigger house? · Or is it so you can be free to give more? · Is it so you can afford to take a mission trip? · Is it so you can open your home for hospitality (Romans 12:13)?

When your “why” is bigger than your 401k, the daily grind of budgeting becomes an act of worship. You aren’t just paying bills; you are funding the Kingdom through your family.

A Prayer for Your Finances: Lord, we give You this checkbook, these accounts, and these careers. They are Yours. Help us to be faithful stewards, selfless partners, and generous givers. May our home be a place of peace, and may our money never be a source of division. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Discussion Question for you and your spouse: What is one financial habit from your childhood (good or bad) that you brought into this marriage, and how can we keep the good and let go of the bad together?

“Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7)