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We all understand the profound teaching that has been given us over the years, regarding this teaching of the
Lord. I was very interested to read recently, of a church Minister in Scotland, who, after many years of concern
in seeing marriages break up, adopted this text as a heading on a guide he issued, on how to approach a
successful wedding that should be lifetime lasting. It is indeed an unusual text for this purpose, but as he
explained, the wedding day is certainly a mix of serving God and mammon, and must be approached in a way
that put the right and most important thing first, and then let the rest follow. He became aware that many were
approaching this day the wrong way around when they came to arrange the ceremony, with strict rules that it
had to fit in around the photographer, the flowers, the reception etc., as these were already pre-booked. He
could see that mammon was being given precedent over God. This could lead to getting off on the wrong foot.
In his pamphlet, he explained that the wedding day was made up of many disjointed arrangements, but there
was only one thing that was the heart of the day and extended itself to cover every future eventually in life. That
was of course, the prayers, the vows and the request for a blessing. This of course is the Godly serving and he
recommended that it be considered first and arranged first so that the marriage can be on a proper foundation,
right from the beginning.
When we consider the vow taken together, we see how it does cover every eventuality in our life.
“Will you live in Holy Matrimony according to God’s order? Will you honour and love each other and always
give counsel, succour and support each other? Will you vow that you will never forsake each other, whether in
fortune or misfortune, in joyful time or grief, in honour or disgrace, and that you will keep to no other all your
life, but mutually and faithfully keep your conjugal vow until death separates you?”
He wrote, if as much time was spent contemplating the marriage vows as is spent on the seating plan at the
reception, I’m certain there would be far fewer divorces. Divorce causes distress. A marriage that lasts a
lifetime, brings a couple happiness and security and gives their children a firm foundation on which to build
their lives. It is not easy. It takes time, commitment, understanding and love, and above all, prayer. But it’s
worth the effort.
When the wedding dress no longer fits and the photographs have faded, the bond of marriage will still hold
strong.
If we contemplate this text, we soon see how it applies to so many other things in our life.