Joint Bank Accounts

Are you married? Do you have joint accounts? 

With Valentine’s Day approaching, I figure the topic of joint accounts is appropriate. Marriage is about becoming one in everything, name, address, bed, and money. Keeping anything separate – including bank accounts – develops a “his money-her money philosophy.” That’s wrong. It’s God’s money that we get to manage together.

Our founder, Larry Burkett, believed that separate bank accounts for couples “makes about as much sense as maintaining separate houses.” Managing joint funds requires humble hearts with a desire to love and serve each other and the kingdom of God. One checking account requires us to relax our grip on money. Rather than being “mine” or “yours”, it becomes “ours”. This requires mutual respect, honest communication, and working together for a common good. You can’t justify selfish spending when called to serve one another. It simplifies bill paying and forces couples to earnestly cooperate. Trust can be established and accountability expected. Common goals are reached and celebrated through teamwork.

Money is a means by which God often reveals our strengths and weaknesses and teaches us to depend on Him more fully. Paul told husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her, and to love their wives as their own bodies, for the two shall become one flesh. He also taught wives to respect their husbands. Love and respect are foundational in stewarding the money you share in common accounts.

We’d love you to join us in Knoxville, Tennessee, from September 10th through 13th. We’re celebrating Crown’s 50th anniversary and all that God has accomplished through the teaching of faithful stewardship. Go to crown.org/50years.