Anderson-Backen
Wedding Theresa Anderson / Derek Backen 6.5.99
Texts: Eccl 4.9-12; 1 Cor 13.4-8,13
Why in the world are you two getting married? lots of answer, history
Some of you may not know how Derek actually proposed to T: said: “Here, I’ve got a box for you.” she open; EMPTY! ring was getting sized
What would drive a guy to be so anxious to propose marriage that he would give his beloved an empty box? And what would motivate a woman to say yes when being given an empty box?
obvious, simple answer: getting married bec you are in Love
love great, but you know true LOVE is anything but simple as you try to live it out in your daily lives;
you know how hard it is to balance work school and time together, know how difficult it is to keep the romance alive
been thru a lot, but are we here just bec you love each other?
putting a lot of burden on love, but the 1 Cor 13 passage can help us discover diff between a true LOVE that never ends and simple,worldly little thing called LUV - uc
- you can fall in LUV at first sight, but you must grow in LOVE
- LUV is an impulse, but LOVE involves decisions / commitment,
- LUV is impetuous and filled with intrigue, LOVE is patient and kind
- LUV can be selfish and suspicious and jealous, but LOVE is not envious or boastful or arrogant
- LUV comes quickly, easily, and just as quickly/easily disap’ears
- LOVE takes time and energy, but also ... LOVE never ends
we most often think of love as a feeling (LUV), but in the Bible LOVE is an action
the Greek language of Bible has separate words to describe these loves: the LUV word has to do with feeling, emotions, passion, chemistry - knee wobbling, butterfly in stomach - not a bad thing: doesn’t even appear in the NT - more impt: that luv can’t be commanded
BUT LOVE arises from a keen sense of the value and worth in the object of our love - it is something you can do and I want you to remember to do throughout your marriage: value, treasure, appreciate - to plan for and nurture your relationship
not just DO you LOVE each other, but WILL you Love each other?
It’s almost too much for any human being to promise, but here is where you begin to realize that you are not alone in your marriage and that w/ every command God makes, God also provides way of keeping it
Eccl: 2 better than one to help, warm, work thru struggles together
then: “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
God’s love is the third cord that holds you together
why in the world? bec God has brought you to this day; God’s love gives you the freedom to love each other in an active way; that holds up thru better/worse all years bring;
SO, Why in the world are you two getting married?
you are in love BEC GOD’s love for you has drawn you together
and we here to celebrate this love of God which has been manifested in your relationship.
And throughout your marriage, I pray that you will not only be in LUV but also find the ways to LOVE each other just as God loves you. AMEN.