A Tale of Two Weddings
I was recently given the opportunity to perform the marriage ceremony for two of my friends here in Virginia. They are a phenomenal Christian couple and genuinely perfect for each other, so that was an easy yes. The location was beautiful, the ceremony went off without a hitch, and the reception was both very sweet for the families involved and a lot of fun for all who were present. It was everything that you would want in a wedding (except for maybe the officiant I heard he did OK), and based on my conversations with each of them, they have found everything they could want in a partner.
A couple of weeks ago, one of the richest people in the world got married in a three-day destination wedding and celebration in Italy. I’ll be up front in saying that I know very little about what went on at this ceremony and the surrounding days, nor do I know much at all about the relationship shared between these two people. I did hear one fact about the wedding, though: It carried a price tag of $50 million. More money than most if not all of us will see in our lifetimes was spent on these three days to celebrate one wedding. (Yeah, they could definitely afford a better officiant.)
I genuinely hope that both marriages succeed. Jesus has said that “what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6b), which is one of the best examples I can name of God’s commandments being commandments because they are also what is best for us as people. I hope that both couples are happy together, that they grow as people together, and that there is much joy in each household. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that one of the two has a much higher chance of success than the other – and it isn’t the one that cost $50 million to celebrate.
I have two reasons for thinking this. The first is that the couple in question both know the Lord and take their faith seriously. There is nothing that will help a marriage more than that (notice Ephesians 5:21, a verse that is often separated from the “marriage paragraph” that follows it but which sets a significant context for it). The second is that marriage is not about the price tag or the celebration. A couple can have all the financial security in the world and lack the wealth of joy that comes by becoming one with one another. A couple can live the most lavish lifestyle possible and never be truly fulfilled because they forget to prioritize one another and the growth they can experience together. It can all look right to the outside world and fall apart very quickly when something isn’t right at home. Marriage isn’t about outward prosperity – it’s about genuine unity.
Now, you may be asking yourself, “That’s all well and good, Luke, but what’s a single guy doing writing an article about marriage?” To quote my fellow single guy, the apostle Paul: “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church,” (Ephesians 5:32). Are our congregations more focused on financial security than celebrating our oneness with the Lord and each other? Are we seeking comfort and even extravagance in our buildings, worship services, and works rather than seeking spiritual fulfillment and growth? If so, we may need to apply this same lesson. Christ’s marriage to His bride isn’t about outward prosperity – it’s about genuine unity.
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” ~ Colossians 3:14
AUTHOR: Luke Tatum
