Let God Be The Go-Between
Sermon
Best Wedding Meditations
An Anthology
Object:
Text: Mark 10:7-9: For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one. So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder. (RSV)
What are we to believe about marriage today? We certainly read and hear much. Recently a University of Michigan sociologist stated that divorce can be a healthy thing. On a television show, a young husband upon being introduced said, "I have a wonderful wife and a one-year-old daughter, and I love them very much." Truly, marriage and divorce is a controversial subject today. It was also during Jesus' day. And Jesus came up with an observation that goes to the core of the success or failure of marriage: What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Christians did not invent marriage. But Christ has added the following to marriage: God himself takes part in the ceremony. He joins man and woman together to become one. Jesus put marriage between two people on the same unbreakable basis as blood relatives. As we never revoke the tie with the mother and father who raised us, neither should we with the one to whom we are married.
In the Syrian Churches of South India young people meet their lifetime mate through the services of a Go-Between. This Go-Between is a respected person approached by the family or church. The resulting marriages have invariably been happy ones. When asked the reason, couples have responded by saying, "Our marriage is based not on our own feelings but on an act of God."
Today we are asking God's blessing upon the marriage of __________ and __________. We are asking them and you to recognize that it is God who is making them ONE. This does not mean they are giving up their individual characteristics and talents. It means that now they will have the beautiful opportunity of sharing together the talents God has given them. They will also know physical oneness. Not a physical oneness that says our marriage will succeed or fail based on the success of our honeymoon. This gift of God is very important, but it is only one of the bright colors that paint the beautiful picture of marriage. If your marriage is not to fade you will need to carefully paint in the colors of constant communication, ready forgiveness, perennial politeness, and a firm faith.
If your marriage is truly to be ONE, let Christ be your constant Go-Between. Take your problems, decisions, and joys to him in prayer. Make the Church a spiritual subdivision of your home by setting up a family altar with daily devotions. Today you are committing yourselves to a lifetime together come what may. It is a big decision. But God helped you make it; he is here blessing you now; and he goes forth with you in the tomorrows if you will but let him.
Jesus knew what he was talking about. You must not take one another for granted. My advice today is simply this: keep Jesus in your plans also. Don't take him for granted! In so far as you keep Christ in your marriage your life together will be an unbroken spiritual oneness until death parts you. May the beautiful picture you are about to paint in the years ahead be of such splendor that everyone who sees you may say, "Truly there is a marriage blessed by God." Amen.
What are we to believe about marriage today? We certainly read and hear much. Recently a University of Michigan sociologist stated that divorce can be a healthy thing. On a television show, a young husband upon being introduced said, "I have a wonderful wife and a one-year-old daughter, and I love them very much." Truly, marriage and divorce is a controversial subject today. It was also during Jesus' day. And Jesus came up with an observation that goes to the core of the success or failure of marriage: What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Christians did not invent marriage. But Christ has added the following to marriage: God himself takes part in the ceremony. He joins man and woman together to become one. Jesus put marriage between two people on the same unbreakable basis as blood relatives. As we never revoke the tie with the mother and father who raised us, neither should we with the one to whom we are married.
In the Syrian Churches of South India young people meet their lifetime mate through the services of a Go-Between. This Go-Between is a respected person approached by the family or church. The resulting marriages have invariably been happy ones. When asked the reason, couples have responded by saying, "Our marriage is based not on our own feelings but on an act of God."
Today we are asking God's blessing upon the marriage of __________ and __________. We are asking them and you to recognize that it is God who is making them ONE. This does not mean they are giving up their individual characteristics and talents. It means that now they will have the beautiful opportunity of sharing together the talents God has given them. They will also know physical oneness. Not a physical oneness that says our marriage will succeed or fail based on the success of our honeymoon. This gift of God is very important, but it is only one of the bright colors that paint the beautiful picture of marriage. If your marriage is not to fade you will need to carefully paint in the colors of constant communication, ready forgiveness, perennial politeness, and a firm faith.
If your marriage is truly to be ONE, let Christ be your constant Go-Between. Take your problems, decisions, and joys to him in prayer. Make the Church a spiritual subdivision of your home by setting up a family altar with daily devotions. Today you are committing yourselves to a lifetime together come what may. It is a big decision. But God helped you make it; he is here blessing you now; and he goes forth with you in the tomorrows if you will but let him.
Jesus knew what he was talking about. You must not take one another for granted. My advice today is simply this: keep Jesus in your plans also. Don't take him for granted! In so far as you keep Christ in your marriage your life together will be an unbroken spiritual oneness until death parts you. May the beautiful picture you are about to paint in the years ahead be of such splendor that everyone who sees you may say, "Truly there is a marriage blessed by God." Amen.
