"Family Matters"
By Paul Kendall

Financial Unity

Money is a very touchy subject for most people - even when it concerns husbands and wives. Many marriages lack financial unity and this lack of unity produces numerous financial problems down the road.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services; 96% of all Americans will retire financially dependent on the government, family, or charity. Now, no married couple would plan their retirement this way but, unless they agree to financial unity – it very well may be their plight. 

Psalms 133:1 says “Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!” That goes for husbands and wives as well! In our first year of marriage, my wife and I lived in a two-story house but couldn’t afford a phone. I worked for a company that sold an early version of the car telephone and my car was equipped with a demonstration unit that would blow the horn when a call came in. Lying in our upstairs bedroom, we would hear the horn blow, run down two flights of stairs, unlock the door, answer the phone and try to hide the fact that we were completely out of breath from running so fast!

One day I heard an ad for a time-share resort stating that if you would simply take a tour - they would give you a free phone! “This is great honey!… we can save money and get us a free phone!” I said. But my wife did not want to go. She was not feeling well and we were definitely not in unity on this one. Well, I kept after her until she agreed to go if I promised to get her out of there in no less than two hours. 

On out tour, not wanting to look like we were just out to get a free phone - I whispered to the salesman that I was totally in favor of buying “If we can just convince my wife”.  One hour led to two and then three – finally, sitting in the closing room with my wife kicking me under the table – the salesman said “you know, with $800 down, we can finance this deal”. And my wife said “Oh really? Well, I’d go for that!” I burst out laughing and the guy thought I was happy. I said “You’ve got to excuse us for a minute” and out to the hall we went. “Have you lost your mind!?” I asked. “I told you to get me out of here!” she replied “NOW TAKE ME HOME!”

I did my best to explain to the salesman that we were not in financial unity and asked for our free phone. “No” he said – realizing our plan. “You can’t have a phone.” I learned that day that financial unity was more valuable than a house telephone. I also learned that when my wife says “two hours”… she really means “two hours!”

That's Family Matters... I'm Paul Kendall.

Paul Kendall is the host of the popular syndicated radio program "Family Matters" and author of a new book by the same name. Radio programs, family resources and much more are available at www.KendallFamilyNetwork.com.