That's a shame that money has to become a cause for conflict between two people who are
in love, have been married, often for a number of years but they never could quite get this money
management thing figured out. Let us pass along a few things that it worked for Cynthia and me.
First of all, she is better with the books than I am. Great revelation. I appreciate the fact
that they're done well but I also realize she's better at it than I am and so I've decided when
it comes to doing the records, we're both happier when she's able to do that and she happens to use
a particular program on our computer that works beautifully for us and she often will tell me, "Well,
we balance this month" and she's always happy to remind me of that. We decided a long time ago that
we would never let money be a cause for conflict. Now, don't misread this, we've had other conflicts,
other disagreements but I don't know that I could name a time when money management was a cause
for argument. First of all, we never surprise each other with sizable purchases. We always talk about
it ahead of time. She doesn't look up one day and see a sailboat the driveway. I can't imagine what
you would do or say if that ever happened but anyway, that's never going to happen, that's one
thing and I never have to worry about her going over to Nordstrom's and buying five thousand
dollars worth of clothing, often I'm there with her and she will ask me about this or that. We'll
both look at price tags. We'll talk about, "Well, could we get this less expensive somewhere else?"
In other words, we negotiate our way through what would have been a conflict, had it been left for a
surprise. The third thing I would say is that we are in agreement that you cannot serve God and
money. That's not original with me that comes out of Matthew 6:24, where Jesus himself said, "You cannot
make the Lord God your Master, at the same time allow money to be your master." If that is happening,
you got your priorities mixed up and I always appreciated the fact that Cynthia and I have been
able to talk openly about things like this. If a particular year is a year of great blessing,
and prosperity, we of course rejoice and we also agree on what we will give our money to, where
we will send it, how we will support this or that. We're supporting several missionaries and several
Christian organizations and so we talk about how we can maintain that and not let anything
change in that area. Also, we are an agreement that the church is our primary place of ministry and
blessing, so the church will get our gift, or the major part of our gift but all in all, I would say
that we have agreed that we will never let money come between us and our relationship. Dave Ramsey has
a wonderful way of answering the question, "How are you today?" He will often say, "Better than I
deserve." and I've started saying that and I would say that as it relates to money, God has provided
for us in a in a way that's better than we deserve so we feel a sense of responsibility in handling
that well because mishandled finances lead you to a dreadful period of conflict that sometimes
can be the weakening and even the ending of a relationship. Let's not ever let that happen.
you