I truly love weddings. I could be a professional wedding crier; I always tear up. There’s something about wedding ceremonies that bring back memories of other weddings, invoke emotions of love and commitment, and celebrate the joining of two people in a new life path. Usually wedding ceremonies express the feelings of the couple towards each other, in a spiritual or scriptural setting. The blessing asks for happiness, joy, commitment, sharing, and always love. After the nuptials, some marriages continue on in an upward swing and others head downward.
The good news and no one’s sure why, but the USA’s divorce rate is at its lowest level in nearly four decades. The sad news is that the marriage breakup rate — which includes relationships that end in divorce or separation — is between 40% and 45%, according to AP.
There are many reasons why marriages end; people are too independent and too proud to admit their part in a conflict; their lives are on a fast track and there’s not enough ‘couple time’; the economy - money problems create struggles on how to spend it; a decline in morality - do what feels good for yourself and don’t worry about anybody else; addictions; infidelity; personal relationship problems; family and in-law problems — and the beat goes on.
But, what about that beautiful wedding and all the emotions that got stirred up? Where is that couple who exchanged rings, kissed and vowed to love each other forever, forsaking all others? Where and why did 40 to 45% of them go? They were two people and became one unit and now they are 0. They may have forgotten something. They may have left Someone out.
The traditional wedding ceremony usually involves a religious setting, asking God to bless the union, free it of jealousy, anger, infidelity and selfishness. Church weddings include God in the service and He is a part of the day’s happiness and union. A large part. One in which the entire family partakes. After the reception and the honeymoon, the lifelong relationship grows in baby steps - hopefully to a 50th+ wedding anniversary. It has more of a chance to do that if they remember to include God in their relationship from the beginning.
Having God in your marriage is like being part of a tripod. It won’t stand on just 2 feet. It needs the 3rd foot for balance. It is an essential accessory for holding a marriage steady at slow-moving speeds or when using long hoped-for ranges. A God-tripod is the best way to prevent a marriage shake. Otherwise, it may cause out-of-focus problems or topple over and have to be discarded.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
From God’s Book here are some verses for ‘one another’ that He offers us.
Be devoted and give preference to one another. (Romans 12:10); Accept one another. (Romans 15:7)Confess your sins to one another. (James 5:16)
Care for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:25); Carry each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2)
Forgive one another. (Ephesians 4:32); Encourage, build up one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Spur one another on to love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24);
Pray for one another. (James 5:16); I will add, Pray Together. It is difficult - almost impossible - to feel anger or not forgive someone when you pray with them.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy…". "…. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church — for we are members of His body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:25-33)
“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23
You may have to forgive each other many times; As God forgives us many times.
Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:5)
"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Don’t ‘hold on’ to the anger overnight - it will still have embers that may flare up again in the morning to a new bonfire.
Taken all together, these Scriptures are a blueprint for a happy marriage. Include God in the blueprint, and you will be blessed with a mate who will love you as much as you love him/her.
Having admired a happily married couple I know, I once asked them separately the secret of their long and joyful marriage. They both gave me the same answer: You have to feel that both of you are giving 125%.
Include God in that percentage and your odds will go way up.
