Saying “I Do” for Christians, whether it be before a Government Official, or, a Licensed Minister, or even, a Priest, with witnesses, is not merely some formality to permit a man and a woman to live together and sleep together.
I have given witness, or simply attended many Marriage Ceremonies over the years, and at each one, I have wondered to myself:
Do these two people understand that there are actually not two, but three persons involved in the marriage and that no one person can be ignored, or, neglected, that three become as one. After all you are Christians, God becomes a partner in the marriage too.
Do these two people actually and truly love each other with an “Unconditional Love” that is required to hold this marriage together?
We all have faults in our character. We all have habits and customs that are a part of our makeup. We all have good traits and bad traits, things that maybe our partner does not like. If we didn’t have any of these things, we would be God.
The thing is though, one has to ask oneself, how important are these, can I live with them or do I think they need to be changed, because true “Unconditional Love” say we must be able to love this person regardless, and not ask or seek or wish or hope for change.
Is the love they claim to have for each other now, the kind of love that is required to weather the trials and tribulation, and the storms, that every married couple face at some point in their marriage?
Is what they share right now, that they call love, is it true love, or, is it being in love, a form of lust?
Do these two people really realize that they are entering into a legally binding, written contract between each other and doing so with Almighty God?
As soon as the Official states “I now pronounce you Husband and Wife, God attaches His seal of approval to your Marriage License. God gives His approval, and His blessings, and His Graces, and, as the Oath says:
“What God has Joined together, let no man, put asunder.” In other words, what God has joined, nobody has the right nor the power to try and breakup or destroy.
When a couple, two people repeat their vows before witnesses, they promise to love each other and keep one unto the other. They promise to stand by each other, through good times and through bad times, supporting each other, and at the same time, this is happening, God is there, and not just as a witness or a guest, God becomes a participant and an equal partner in the union of the two.
If you are a person of “Honor” your word is your bond, your yes means yes, not only if. Your “Word”, your “Honor” is what makes you, you. It is how you are defined as a person.
After your vows are spoken, the couple then sign a “Wedding License” This becomes a Legal Document , a Binding Legal Contract, upon which the now married couple affix their signatures, is witnessed by two witnesses, and, to which God Himself affixes His Godly Seal.
This does not mean, that as soon as you begin having to face financial difficulties, you go running to mommy and daddy, where you feel safe.
Jobs come and jobs go. The economy is forever changing. Rental fees, or, Mortgage Payments fluctuate with the economy. Financial Emergencies, come out of nowhere, putting strain on both parties.
They promise to stand by each other in sickness and in health, meaning that if one faces a terminal illness, the other doesn’t simply hide in their shell, or, walk away and abandon the other.
With the exception of illness or death, over the past 25 years, my wife Lyn and I have faced together almost anything that could possibly have destroyed our marriage. Even after 25 years, we argue and fight, we’ve faced ups and downs, more downs, than we care to face, but with each difficulty, we turn to God, knowing and trusting that God has the necessary answers to bring harmony back into our marriage.
We make God number one in our lives, seperately and together. We trust God to continually show us how to work together as husband and wife, no matter how angry we might become with each other. We keep the lines of communication between each other, as well as with God. Regardless who is at fault, “I’m sorry” is much easier to hear and receive than “I hate you.” or “I want a divorce.” or whatever hurtful bad thing a couple might say in the heat of an argument.
And lastly we never ever go to sleep at night without clearing the air through communication, kissing and making up.
Think about this for a moment. Is it possible for you to stay angry when your partner apologizes says they are sorry and kisses you. I’ve tried it a few times, but it’s impossible to do. Repentance and Forgiveness are the most important tools in any marriage.
Neither Divorce courts, nor marriage councillors, would be busy if couples would give more attention to what they are about to vow to before God. God must be recognized as an equal partner, maybe even more than equal partner in a marriage, after all marriage was instituted by God and God never plans anything that is destined to fail. If a couple chooses to welcome God into their marriage, there will still be hardships to face, because satan never rests, but with God in your corner, satan has little to no chance to succeed.