A Christian Guide to Financial Unity

1 Timothy 6:10

Even for people who are getting ready for their wedding, money is one of the most stressful things that may happen in a relationship. When it comes to finances, couples may find themselves in conflict, experiencing dread, and being pulled away from their shared purpose. As you look ahead to your wedding, however, you do not have to allow money to become the adversary in your relationship. Financial dispute, on the other hand, can be transformed into an opportunity to cultivate godly love, deepen trust, and establish permanent unity if it is approached with honesty, spiritual alignment, and shared ideals with the intention of achieving it.

In this post from thefaithwins, we’ll lean on the wisdom of 1 Timothy 6:10 — “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…” — to guide you into a healthier, god-centred approach to money, together. (bibleref.com). We will also discuss on Understanding 1 Timothy 6:10 in Your Context, When Money Causes Fights: A Christian Guide to Financial Unity, Why This Matters for Couples Planning Their Wedding, and so much more.

📖 Understanding 1 Timothy 6:10 in Your Context

The words that Paul spoke to Timothy are not merely old instructions; rather, they have real-world significance for couples in the modern era. If you want to know something, here it is:

• Additionally, he cautions that “the love of money” (which is not simply money) can become a root from which many problems emerge. (BibleReference:com)
• It is not that money is inherently dishonest; rather, it is when our hearts become attached to it, elevate it, and allow it to control us that we are prone to succumbing to temptation. (www.bible.org)
• A great number of people, “by yearning for it, have wandered away from the faith and driven themselves through with a great deal of sorrow.” According to cabuniversity.com, 1 Timothy 6:10

In light of this, it is possible that the source of the tension in your relationship is not so much the amount of money you possess as it is the position that money occupies in both your hearts and in your union.

💡 Why Money Fights Happen in Christian Relationships

Here are common patterns that surface around finances — and how they link back to spiritual roots:

Issue	What’s Really At Stake	How It Ties to Godly Love & Marriage
One partner hides spending / debt	Fear, shame, control	Leads to broken trust — which opposes unity
Constant comparison / “keeping up”	Insecurity, greed	Erodes contentment (cf. 1 Tim 6:6-8) (calvaryfullerton.org)
Money becomes a measure of love or success	Values getting skewed	Distracts from Christ-centred purpose
Work dominates marriage life for greater income	Identity in earning rather than in the union	Marriage is partnership, not two solo efforts

You are not only treating symptoms when you acknowledge these origins; rather, you are addressing the core of the issue, which is bringing your dating-to-marriage path into accordance with the design that God has for you.

🛠 A Christian Guide to Financial Unity

Here are practical steps for developing financial unity in your relationship — rooted in Scripture, executed together.

1. Align Your Values First

• Sit down and ask: What does “enough” mean for us?
• Read together 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and discuss what “godliness with contentment” looks like for you. (bible.org)
• Write your shared financial vision: e.g., “We want to steward our resources so we can serve, give, and enjoy life together.”

2. Establish Transparency & Communication

• Commit to open dialogue: frequency (monthly), what you’ll cover (income, expenses, giving).
• Use questions like: “Is there spending I do that makes you uncomfortable?” or “What are you saving toward right now, and why?”
• Build trust: A partner hiding finances feels like standing on loose ground — not solid union.

3. Build a Budget Together

• While budgeting may sound mundane, it actually fosters unity when done together.
• Use a table like this:

Category	Monthly Amount	Priority Level
Giving/Charity	___	High
Savings & Debt Reduction	___	High
Everyday Expenses	___	Medium
Fun / Date Nights	___	Medium
Future Goals (Home, Kids, Mission)	___	High

• Agree that budget is not a tool of control but a plan of partnership.

4. Guard Against the Love of Money

• Remind each other regularly: Money is a tool, not a master. (bible.org)
• When money becomes a constant stress, ask: Is our heart leaning on money instead of on God?
• Practice gratitude for what you have. Contentment is a protective guard. (New Beginnings Baptist Church)

5. Use Money for Mission Together

• Giving and serving together aligns your heart’s direction.
• Ask: How can our resources reflect our faith and love?
• This turns finances from fight-trigger into shared purpose and joy.

According to 1 Timothy 6:10, the love of money

The hunger for wealth is the source of all sort of evil in the world. Paul contrasts the effects of lives that are motivated by a desire to become rich and those that are motivated by a desire to become holy by using two proverbs or wisdom sayings that are strikingly contrasted with one another (see note 6:6).

The two desires are incompatible with one another, as Jesus taught. (Matthew 6:24) no one can serve both God and money at the same time. “wandering from the faith” and “much grief” are the outcomes that come about as a consequence of a love for money since it gives rise to “all kinds of evil.” The way to proceed through life is to “be rich in good deeds” (6:18), which is beneficial to everyone, regardless of whether or not one possesses a vast deal of wealth.

The Responsibility of Timothy, according to 1 Timothy 6:11-19
In this passage, Paul encourages Timothy to be a model disciple of Jesus who is actively seeking life. Throughout the entirety of his letter to Timothy, Paul has presented three essential components of a solution to the problem of false teachers who have begun to emerge from inside the church. To begin, they need to be faced and given the order to cease their behavior (see note 1:3). Secondly, in place of their “false teaching,” they should replace it with “healthy teaching” about Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, the ‘good actions’ that are presented in the context of communal worship before God and in the context of social testimony before neighbors will serve as a contrast to the argumentative and greedy lives of false teachers who are primarily concerned with their own personal gain. Timothy has been tasked with leading and exemplifying this cure, but his ‘worthy confession’ refers to that of Jesus Christ (6:12-6:13). Timothy is Paul’s chosen delegate, and he has been given this responsibility.

🌿 Why This Matters for Couples Planning Their Wedding

You’re not just prepping for a beautiful wedding day — you’re preparing for a lifetime of decisions together. How you handle money now sets the tone for your marriage.

• If fights about money start early, they often grow.
• If you cultivate unity now, you’ll navigate future seasons (kids, career changes, church finances) as a team.
• Starting in your dating-to-marriage season sends a message: We’re aligned long before we say “I do.”

🙏 Final Encouragement for Your Marriage🕊

There is no need for money to break you apart. Financial matters have the potential to become a source of strength, growth, and shared mission when God is placed at the center of the situation, when values are aligned, when communication is open, and when stewardship is prudent. The wisdom provided in 1 Timothy 6:10 should serve as a guide for you: do not allow your love of money to become a source of contention; rather, let your love for one another and for Christ serve as the basis for your financial unity.

During the process of planning your wedding and the life that will follow it, may your shared funds reflect the faith that you both share. May the tension that arises over money not be the defining characteristic of your partnership, but rather the trust, generosity, and profound peace that results from two hearts serving God together.

Your marriage is a wonderful partnership; it is one that is characterized by unity, blessed by grace, and constructed for a lifetime of love that honors God. 💕