by Dr. Taffy Wagner
http://www.moneytalkmatters.com
Have you ever felt like your marriage relationship was different than those of your friends, coworkers and family? You listen to friends complain about their spouse’s spending or the spouse calling and “ragging” on them about money they do not share and overall not appreciating them.
Colossians 2:8 (American KJ Version) states, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” God ordained marriage between a man and a woman. It is sacred. Yet, if you watch television, read a lot of magazines they are attempting to tear down the institution and image of marriage.
You have examples of several politicians that have been caught committing infidelity and it coming out publicly. Then the wife has to deal with it almost publicly because that is how she found out. The media turns their attention to her as well and she gets bombarded with questions. If there are kids involved that also becomes a point of focus. Based on these examples, the question has been posed, “Is Marriage a Mistake”?
If you are reading this and consider yourself to be “of the world” then maybe marriage is a mistake? However, when you are a believer (Christian), you are aware that you are in the world and not of the world. That in itself says that your marriage is different and does not follow the norms of marriage in the world.
Norms for marriage in the world are as follows: husbands and wives get married, they do not talk about money and marriage, they have children as a way to save a relationship that already has problems not being discussed, they also fuss to their colleagues about their spouses and their work performance begins to decline.
Believers’ marriages are to be a true example of love. Loving the person unconditionally because it a choice and not based on emotion. The husband and wife are discussing money issues as a means to resolve challenges together and make better decisions for the life of the marriage. Believers’ marriages show the husband and wife not taking each other for granted, yet encouraging each other in their individual endeavors as well as mutual goals.
The word says husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the Church. Before any husband or wife decides they want to put their marriage asunder, ask yourself what God has to say about your marriage and the issues you are dealing with? Remember, our Marriage is In the World but not OF the World.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God,” Romans 12: 2 (NKJV)
