5 Things Newlyweds Must Not Do

newlyweds

Newlyweds can easily be overwhelmed with their new circumstances. They are adjusting to each other—the delightful as well as the mysterious, the obvious as well as the surprising. They are finding out how to plan their days and nights now that dating and courting have suddenly been removed from their agenda. And, they are finding out about mortgages and rents, taxes, and neighbors in ways they only imagined earlier.

It’s called life. It happens to all of us.

It would be natural for the newly married couple to postpone some things. And true enough, some things can be put on the back burner. Let them delay going into debt for “big ticket items.” Debt can be a killer for young families. Let them delay having children until they have solidified some matters in their own new relationship and established their home.

Newlyweds, Don’t Wait on These

However, some mighty important matters should be dealt with head-on and faced immediately.

1) The newlywed couple should not wait for a good time to start reading their Bible and praying together. 

Let them start at day one, and never miss a day. If they need a plan, they would do well to ask several mature couples at church for their suggestions.

2) The newlywed couple must not wait until their finances are in shape and all the bills are paid before beginning a savings plan.

From the first, they must start setting aside a certain percentage in some definite plan of savings.

3) The newlyweds must not delay in finding a good church home and getting active in Sunday School. 

Attending worship is essential of course, but sitting in a smaller group studying the Bible with their peers will provide something that can be found nowhere else. (Some churches not having Sunday School have cell groups that meet in homes some weeknight. This can fill the same function.)

4) The newlyweds must not wait to start tithing their income to the Lord through their church.

In fact, they should have talked this out before marriage and already started tithing as individuals so the transition would be seamless once they are wed.

The typical young couple, even the godliest, will often delay beginning to tithe since they have more financial needs than money. On the surface, it seems logical to say, “We’re going to tithe just as soon as we get our bills paid and get a little ahead.” Isn’t that the responsible approach?

There is one major problem in that…

What that says is “We’re going to tithe just as soon as we don’t have to do it by faith.” And Scripture is clear on this: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

I have known thousands of tithing couples through the years. But I never met anyone who started tithing when they could afford it. No one has extra money laying around the house. “Honey, what shall we do with the extra money this month?” “This would be a good time to start tithing.” That does not happen. Repeat: It does not and will not happen.