1. Hello and welcome! It’s episode 329 of #MrMrsBetterHalf. Mr. & Mrs Better Half is designed to strengthen marriages & relationships that will lead to marriage, with wisdom from God's Word.
2. This week, I’m continuing the conversation on a desperate cry from a married man, ‘my wife wants access to my bank account, and I know that means disaster!’. #MrMrsBetterHalf
3. Please feel free to retweet and mention others to read this thread. #MrMrsBetterHalf
4. Last week, I mentioned that what if only one of you is employed and brings in cash? Why should the money-maker be accountable to the person who brings in little or nothing? #MrMrsBetterHalf
5. I’ll take the opportunity to talk to singles and young couples today as a continuation on this topic. #MrMrsBetterHalf
6. I strongly advise that at the start of a marriage, you both do what you can to bring some money into your family. Even if one party is incredibly wealthy, it takes two to build a home. Do your own part. Don’t forsake it. #MrMrsBetterHalf
7. Don’t worry about if it pales in comparison to your partner’s contribution. Just contribute. There could be exceptions- like if your spouse is in school but that should have a time limit. Schooling should equip the spouse to become an income earner ASAP. #MrMrsBetterHalf
8. Now, what if you decide that you want one parent to be at home to care for the kids while they are very young? This is a very important decision that must be weighed critically from all sides. Don’t be overly emotional about it. #MrMrsBetterHalf
9. Jobs are precious in this economy so count the cost carefully before you say goodbye to yours. Monetize the cost of childcare (crèche, nanny, pre-school) and incidental expenses like fuel, driver, etc. #MrMrsBetterHalf
10. Compare that to what your spouse now earns and decide whether forfeiting that job is worth it. It just might be. #MrMrsBetterHalf
11. Next, think of the future. Let’s say you have 2/3 children. In about 5-7years they will be of school age. What structures are in place to ensure your spouse will be relevant in the labour market after 5 years of being at home? #MrMrsBetterHalf
12. Will he/she need to go to school, take courses, start a small business, or just go straight back into the job market? Make realistic plans for how the stay-at-home parent can successfully transition into career/business.
13. Being a stay-at-home parent is a decision you must both wholeheartedly agree to and each party should do his/her part willingly and cheerfully. No resentment is allowed. For the stay-at-home parent, ensure the value you bring is apparent. #MrMrsBetterHalf
14. Should the spouse who stays at home have a say in what happens to the family finances? YES!!! The stay-at-home spouse brings great value into the relationship and should be respected for his/her contribution. #MrMrsBetterHalf
15. Don’t withhold salaries or bonuses from him/her and don’t make your spouse have to beg for an allowance. Money brings a certain level of dignity. Don’t ever degrade your spouse by withholding cash. #MrMrsBetterHalf
16. When you have paid the bills split what is left that can be referred to as spending money fairly. Above all, embrace the spirit of generosity. The liberal soul will be made fat. Be generous to yourself, to your spouse and to God. You will be better for it. #MrMrsBetterHalf
17. So guys and ladies, don’t panic when it comes to sharing details about your income or granting access to your accounts! If you love your spouse, show some vulnerability and say, ‘what is mine is ours’. #MrMrsBetterHalf
18. I hope this has been helpful. I will be back next week with a new question to answer. #MrMrsBetterHalf
19. Till next week Friday, thank you for following, participating and RTing. May your marriages and relationships be sweet!
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1. “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes
up and it knows it must run faster that the
fastest lion, or it will be killed. Every
morning a lion wakes up, it knows it must
outrun the slowest gazelle or it would
starve to death.
2. It doesn't matter if you are a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up - you better start running." - Thomas Friedman. If you have the mindset of a gazelle, you will always be running from lions. If you feel like a lion, you will always be running after gazelles.
3. Some people have the mindset that people are to be preyed on, while some feel abused, neglected, and abandoned. However, Jesus was never a lion looking
for a gazelle to prey upon.
1. God has a plan for you to be a full
partaker of His love and enjoy it. You were
created for connection and God brings
people into your life to demonstrate His
love towards you. He also uses you to
demonstrate His love towards other
people.
2. Do not shut your heart to love. Ask God
for a discerning spirit to know when He
deliberately places people around you to
love you as a colleague, neighbour, friend,
spouse, family etc. Living the connected
life is best exemplified by living out the
love of God.
3. Confession:
I am a child of God, I am born of God, I live a life of love because God's love is in my heart.
1. Have you ever wondered why connection
is important? It is because connection
leads us to God's divine mandate for His
people, which is unity. God wants His
children to be united because it profits
two things: first, it commands God's
presence and grace.
2. Connection automatically attracts the presence of God to you just like He was drawn to the people at the tower of Babel.
Secondly, it promotes the demonstration
of the nature of God. How do you say you
love God and you do not love your brothers and sisters?
3. The only way to show the God-kind of love is through connection. From human
experience, not all connections work out
according to your plan. However, caution
in connection should not limit the blessedness of the connection. Therefore,make deliberate effort to connect & belong.
1. God created you for connection but you
must be intentional about the connections
you surround yourself with. The church of
God is your community & He expects
you to make the most of your time by
making meaningful connections that serve/fulfil His purpose for you & His church.
2. There are a few questions you have to ask in order to get the real deal. They may appear to be difficult questions but they will ultimately lead you to your right community and destiny. You must consider the dynamic of this community.
3. Do you have shared values like
accountability, integrity, etc.? You should
also understand the chemistry of the
community? How do you connect &
what binds you together? The third factor
is the DNA of this community. What sets
them apart for you? Finally, review how
you engage.
1. When you are going through very tough
times, it's hard to see that there is a plan
for your life. Sadly, this is when most
people withdraw from others. But God's
plan for your life does not exclude
connections.
2. Your ability to connect with people will facilitate God's plan for your life, while a lack of authentic connections will limit the blessings of God in your life. God will use men to speak for you, fight for you and favour you.
3. Remember, the strength of your network is indicative of the possibilities for God to move in your life. In the Bible, you will see God connecting people so that they can make progress together.
1. With almost 8 billion people in the world,
you would think that it is impossible to be
isolated. Yet isolation is not only a reality
of our current world, it is fast becoming
the culture of choice for many people.
2. Technology has led many to believe that
human connection is over-rated - this is
simply not true. Connection is at the heart
of humanity; it shapes, defines and
strengthens us. Without connections, the
world as we know it cannot exist.
3. There will be no breakthrough discoveries, life-saving inventions or even organized society. The principle of connection was embedded in the very act of creation and that is why God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone'.