Reller Burrous
Wedding David Reller / Phyllis Burrous 3.27.99
Texts: 1 Cor 13.1-13 John 15.9-12
whole lotta love in verses you’ve chosen
What’s Love got to do with it?
it seems obvious, sounds simple: getting married bec you Love each other
think back to to Oct 18, 1997, barndance at Arthur
Phyllis, you gaze across the room and think to self: I could marry that man – of course he had to get his act together first; and you both had to make things hard on yourselves by changing jobs and buying a house
BUT, both of you have told me how it felt as if you were being driven to each other, something bigger than both that was bringing you togeth
and so we end up here today celebrating the new Brady Bunch!
Now that’s true love, isnt it?
teasing, bec as you know, true LOVE is anything but simple as you try to live it out in your daily lives where there are all the demands of work and home and school schedules – you won’t be the Brady Bunch, probs not solved in half hour
you quickly discover that it is impt to disting between the LOVE that never ends and simple, worldly little thing called LUV - uc
the 1 Cor 13 passage can help us discover this diff
- 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
in John 15: "This is my commandment, that you love one another
Will you indeed not just be in luv BUT also LOVE one another?
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
joh 15 again: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
X’s love for us makes it possible for us to truly love one another
it is the LOVE of Christ which lies behind that wonderful description of love in 1 Cor 13
it is that same love which u say brought you together and will keep you together because God's love is far stronger and more powerful and more wonderful than even the most passionate and romantic of human loves
You will always be able to count on the love of GOD to be with you in the midst of sickness and health and better and worse and all that the years may bring
What’s love got to do with it? everything and indeed a whole lotta love:
yours and God’s
celebrate this love of God which has been manifested in your relationship.
And throughout your marriage, I pray that you will find the ways to LUV and LOVE each other just as God loves you. AMEN.