I recently watched an older movie, “The Wedding Planner.” In that movie the Jennifer Lopez character tells a future bride, the client of the wedding planning business where she works, “He said he can’t believe you chose him.” Similarly, I recently told some people, “When both the husband and wife think they are the lucky one, then a marriage works.
” Marriage between one man and one woman is God’s plan for the world He made, God’s plan for families. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) Actually, Scriptures tells us that the relationship between a husband and wife teaches us about the relationship between Jesus and His bride, the Church.
“29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:29-33) Our loving Lord intends that the unity, the bond, the sacrifice and the love between a husband and wife reflect the greater love between Jesus and His Church. Unfortunately, in a world of selfishness, of pride, of greed and lust and covetousness, in a world of sin, no marriage is perfect.
Many fail completely. We should not be surprised that our sin disrupts one of the greatest blessings God gave His children. Divorce is a reality which breaks hearts, in Scripture, in our world, and in my own extended family.
I know some, at least, of the heartaches and struggles of my loved ones. I am sad for those I know whose hearts have been broken, and I hope I bring comfort and love to their lives. But, marriage is still a gift from God, meant to bless men and women, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren.
In Proverbs 31, King Lemuel sums up a song on the virtues of his own wife, “10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. . .
29 Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
” (Proverbs 31:29-31) I write this because I feel like I understand King Lemuel. On Tuesday, August 20, my wife Kathy and I will have been married for 47 years. Forty-seven years is not a seemingly special number, like 25 years, or 30 or 40, or 50, or 60 years.
I pray and hope we celebrated MANY more anniversaries. My own parents were married for over 58 years before my mom passed. But, Kathy’s parents only made 28 years before her dad died.
The bottom line is that I am thankful for God’s gift of marriage, for the blessing of my wife, Kathy, and for our many years of love and faith, of family and friends, of disappointments and joys. I do believe that I am the lucky one. Surprisingly, Kathy also tells me the same thing.
But, then she also tells me that her job is to . . .
keep me humble. 😊 (I guess that’s a big job!) On Sunday, August 18, I had the privilege of bringing God’s word to Faith Lutheran Church in Homer, AK. Before worship I was talking with Ron and Marilyn Hess.
I first met them in 1991, over 33 years ago. As we were talking Ron and Marilyn shared with me that they have been married for 62 years, and that Ron’s parents were married for over 70 years. Imagine, 70 years! Imagine the love, the sacrifice, the perseverance.
That sounds like Jesus’ love for His church, doesn’t it? “ . . .
a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Thank you, Lord, for the GIFT of marriage and family! Thank you, Lord, for my wife, Kathy!.
