Russ Crosson - 8 Important Money Decisions for Every Couple: Discover Financial Harmony - Communicate Through Your Differences - Build a Stronger Relationship

Endorsements for Russ Crosson and
8 Important Money Decisions for Every Couple

Having been in the communications business nearly 30 years and married for nearly 25 of those years, I was excited to see a book on the subject of money that is really as much about communication as it is about money. Russ Crosson covers both subjects with precision and discernment, reminding me I must never stop learning about money or communication. Every couple should study this book together.

Mark DeMoss, founder,

The DeMoss Group

I thoroughly enjoy Russ Crossons rich and credible financial counsel in this book. It equips and empowers a couple to live in harmony, free from financial bondage.

Karen Loritts,

Conference speaker

There are key decisions that every couple makes when it comes to money that determine long-term direction and destination. However, men and women communicate differently and have different perspectives when it comes to money. I wholeheartedly endorse this book by Russ Crosson. It not only gives practical advice for eight important financial areas every couple must address, but it also takes the stress out of the discussion, ultimately leading to more unity, harmony, and peace of mind for couples.

Mark Batterson, author of The Circle Maker , and

lead pastor, National Community Church

We all know that one of the most common sources of conflict in any marriage is money. We also know that money issues are not primarily about money. As Jesus indicates, money is a revealer of the heart. In this book, Russ Crosson gets to the heart of the matter. I have known Russ and Julie for nearly 30 years. I have not only been blessed by their teaching but also by their friendship. I can truly say that the content of this book is born out of their own lives and marriage. I have seen them practice what they preach. I believe that every married (or soon-to-be-married) couple will benefit greatly by the biblical insights and practical wisdom found in 8 Important Money Decisions for Every Couple .

Tim Kallam, senior pastor,

Mountain Brook Community Church

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked AMP are taken from The Amplified Bible, Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Verses marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Italics in Scripture quotations indicate authors emphasis.

Harvest House Publishers has made every effort to trace the ownership of all quotations. In the event of a question arising from the use of a quote, we regret any error made and will be pleased to make the necessary correction in future editions of this book.

Cover design by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Russ Crosson is published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.

8 IMPORTANT MONEY DECISIONS FOR EVERY COUPLE

Copyright 1989; updated edition 2012 by Russell D. Crosson

Published 2012 by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Crosson, Russ

Eight important money decisions for every couple / Russ Crosson.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-7369-4622-3 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-4623-0 (eBook)

1. Married peopleFinance, Personal. 2. ChristiansFinance, Personal. 3. Finance, PersonalReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

HG179.C7497 2013

332.024dc23

2011048661

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

To all couples
who desire to make money
a nonissue in their marriages.

T o write a book on marital harmony and money management is indeed a challenge, and one that would be impossible for me were it not for my relationship with Julie, my bride of more than 30 years. Her love for God and unwavering desire to be a godly helper have enabled us, as a couple, to live out firsthand the financial principles and thoughts shared throughout this book. Im extremely grateful for her and her constant support and encouragement. I am committed to her for the rest of my life. We are both grateful for the saving work Christ has done in our lives, without which the power and ability to live out these truths would be impossible.

I owe a special debt of gratitude to Charles and Peggy McCreight, who, along with the young couples in their church in Sumter, South Carolina, provided the forum where this material originally came together. Charles and Peggy encouraged Julie and me. They prayed for us constantly as we undertook the challenge of this project.

Ron Blue gave me the opportunity to work with couples in the financial arena when he hired me more than three decades ago. Financial insights gleaned from Ron, as well as my other partners at Ronald Blue & Company, are woven throughout this book. I am grateful these people are in my life.

The couples who read the manuscript and offered valuable input have had a tremendous impact on the finished product. Rusty and Colleen Reid, Baker and Vicky Jones, Clark and Holly Crosson, and Reed and Kristen Crosson deserve my special thanks.

To Julies and my parents, Bert and Jan Harned and Lon Dean and Barbara Crosson Julie and I are forever grateful for their presence in our lives. They modeled harmonious marriages and the proper way to handle finances for us. They have been an inspiration to us.

A special thanks to Bonnie Davidson and Molly Blass for their countless hours of inputting and responding to my time demands as this book came to completion.

Decision 1: How Much Should We Work?

Decision 2: Should Mom Work Outside the Home?

Decision 3: Who Pays the Bills?

Decision 4: How Do We Set Budget Amounts?

Decision 5: How Much Debt Should We Allow?

Decision 6: How Do We Decide Which Investments to Make?

Decision 7: How Much Should We Give?

Decision 8: What Is Our Strategy for Discussing Money?

Julie Crossons Personal Story

A s part of the most famous address ever given on planet Earth, Jesus Christ taught about the importance of how we treat money:

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:19-20,24 ESV ).