John and Emily Wedding

Matthew 6:19–21 CEB

“Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 10:25–37 CEB

A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” But the legal expert wanted to prove that he was right, so he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death. Now it just so happened that a priest was also going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. Likewise, a Levite came by that spot, saw the injured man, and crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Introduction

Well well well.

We finally made it, huh?

Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today!

You know, I have lost track of how many weddings I have started with those words.

And I’m afraid that those are words that I have probably taken for granted way too much in the past.

I hope we never take them for granted again!

Just for a second, indulge me you two.

Take a look around at everyone who has gathered here today.

There’s a lot of love in this place, isn’t there?

Agape

We get a lot of mileage out of this little word “Love.”

The writers of the scriptures actually had a more nuanced view of love.

Storge- Cute things

Flower girl?

Doggo

Philio- Friendship

It’s what allows you both to take all those hikes and bike rides and other outdoor adventures that so many of us are jealous of!

It’s also what allows you to just have those quiet nights together, with nothing going on, and be as content as you possibly can just to be in each other’s company.

And it’s why so many couples can’t stop giggling on the day of their wedding.

Eros- Physical attraction

This is that feeling inside that probably caught you both as you caught eyes walking down the isle.

It’s that moment that your breath gets taken away, and your heart feels like it melts a little bit inside.

But the fourth love is what we’re most focused on today.

It’s the word “Agape.”

Agape love values the recipient above the giver.

John, when you show agape love you are placing Emily’s happiness above your own.

Emily, when you show agape love your desire is for John to be loved more than yourself.

This kind of love is hard to explain or understand.

A lot of couples will choose kind of cliche verses about agape love.

We’ve all been to weddings with Love is patient, love is kind.

We’ve probably heard a preacher talk about the Ephesians texts where the husband and wife give themselves to each other.

We’ve heard about three fold cords that aren’t easily broken.

And…you guys didn’t choose any of those, did you?

This makes sense on a couple of levels:

Emily, you’ve been giving me grief for a long time, so it only makes sense that you would throw down one more challenge here for the wedding.

But…more importantly, the texts you’ve chosen don’t tell us about Agape love.

They show it.

The story of the Good Samaritan doesn’t work if the Samaritan is worried about what other people will think of him, or what it’s going to cost him, or if it’s fair.

The story of the Good Samaritan only works because the Samaritan puts the needs of the poor soul in the ditch above his own.

Where your treasure is

And you’ve also reminded us of one of Jesus most profound teachings about love.

Where your treasure is, that’s where your hearts going to be.

And on that note, I have a simple question for the two of you:

What do you treasure in each other?

Any relationship that treasures fun adventures and playful days above all won’t have the heart to last.

Any relationship that treasures easy going and conflict avoidance won’t have the heart to go the distance.

Any relationship that treasures the material goods of the world won’t have the heart to make it through the darkest of times.

And we all know that you two don’t treasure those things.

When you treasure your spouse’s happiness, your heart will be kept save in agape love.

When you treasure your spouses success, your heart will celebrate every single day.

When you treasure the happiness of the good days and the joy that somehow still holds on to hope on the difficult ones, your heart will go on and on and on.

When your treasure is each other, then you live in to what the scripture says “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”

Store up some treasures.

So even though you two have held the world record for longest pre-marital counseling in the world, forgive me if I offer one last piece of advice:

Wherever you go, whatever you do, store up some treasure that can’t be stolen or decay.

Store up the treasures of a life well lived, drinking in the joy of each and every adventure you find.

But also store up the treasures of a life well lived on the days when sitting alone together is more than enough.

Store up the treasures of success and mutual encouragement

But also store up the treasures of what it looks like to lift up one who has fallen down.

Store up the treasures of happy moments as a family.

Store up the treasures of difficult days made easier in each other’s company.

Store up treasures each and every day you two are together.

Take one more look around the room.

Store up the treasure of each and every person who’s in this room today, and I’m sure the countless more who couldn’t make it.

We’re in your corner, and we’re with you all the way.

And know this:

The God who gave us all of this, who treasures the relationship you both share, that God’s heart will be with you every single step of the way.