Does the Bible have anything pertaining to debt and marriage?

by Lindsey
(Seattle)

Question: Does the Bible have anything pertaining g to debt and marriage? First I would like to say this website has been a blessing for me to find. Anyway, I am 22 and have been with my youth pastor boyfriend for a year or so now and we have talked a lot about getting married. It is definitely something we both desire, and on so many levels we feel ready to go for the gold. However, My boyfriend says he can't marry me until I have my debt paid off. (20k plus in student loans) I was wondering if there in anything in the bible that says this? I haven't been able to find it myself, but he says it's in there. Is it really a requirement by God that I have no debt in order to marry?

Thanks,
Lindsey

Answer: Hello Lindsey. As far as we know, there is nothing in the Bible that says a man and a woman can not be married if either of them have debt. The Bible does teach against Christians being in debt, it just doesn't link debt to marriage. Again, we were not able to find one Scripture that said a man and woman should not get married if they are in debt. If your boyfriend insists that this is Scriptural, then ask him to provide you with the exact text. It sounds to us like this might just be his personal preference.

However, you should keep in mind that finances is often one of the top reasons why couples experience marital difficulty. Being in debt and not having enough money to pay bills can place undesired strain on even the strongest marriage. So, if the debt that you have incurred has the potential of placing a strain on your relationship, then it might be best to pay it off first. If the two of you are officially engaged, devise a plan to pool your funds and make joint payments in order to get it paid off sooner.

Also, if the two of you are already engaged, we recommend you look into premarital counseling in order to dispel any misconceptions you may have and to get started on a solid foundation.


With Christ's Love,
Mike and Wanda