Christian Book Notes

Dayton, Howard. Money and Marriage God’s Way. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009. 224 pp. $14.99. Purchase at Amazon for $10.19.

Introduction

Perhaps one of the biggest areas of disagreement in a marriage is the handling of money.  The Bible is very clear on marriage: it is between one woman and one man (Gen. 2:24), it is to be between two Christians (2 Cor 6:14), and is to be forever (Matt. 19:6).  The Bible also has more to say on money than any other one subject.  It would seem, then, that money and marriage would be two subjects that every “seasoned” Christian would understand; however, we know that is not the case.  Howard Dayton, cofounder of Crown Financial Ministries has authored a book taking a biblical look at both of these important subjects.

Review

Money and Marriage is not weekend, beach reading material to read on your honeymoon.  Howard Dayton has written an extensive book divided into six parts.  The first parts details the importance of a “marriage forever” mentality.  Part two discusses how to become one another’s cheerleader in the financial discussions that inevitably arise in a marriage.

Part three is perhaps the most essential chapter, in my estimation, of the book.  Here, Dayton details how to manage your income and outgo and being good stewards of what God has given you because God does care about your money.  The fourth part helps you navigate and prepare for the eventual monetary challenges in your marriage while part five gives a panoramic view of your marriage and your money from you engagement to your retirement  years.

The sixth part is a hodge-podge of information about how to make your home a home under particular circumstances.  One chapter is on how to live as a single-income family with the wife being a stay-at-home mom (believe it or not, most people add to their overall income when they make this transition!).  The second chapter looks at step-families and how to best operate in that situation.

Each part has a “React” section where the reader is challenged to do something unique to the content found in the part.  There is also a resource section that points the reader to valuable Internet and other resources germane to the topic.  Finally, each part concludes with “Encouragement from a couple you should know…” where the reader discovers true to life stories of married couples overcoming past monetary problems and how they put the principles being discussed into practice.

Recommendation

Any book on finances that has “This book is an absolute must read! –Dave Ramsey” on the front cover is just that, a must read.  Personally, Dave Ramsey’s books have ministered to me and my family more than any other book on finances.  When this book came across my desk and I read those words, I eagerly devoured the wisdom given us by Howard Dayton.  This book is an excellent resource for couples seeking counseling because of finances and would make an even better wedding present so the couple can avoid counseling in the future.