Celebration of Marriage
Greetings from the frigid NE
Flying home I felt bad for the flight attendants
No one is listening to them
I wonder how that feels?
Today as we talk about marriage I feel I have nothing really new to say
But I hope you do listen – we can all use the encouragement to make our marriages better
Speaking of airline flights, I’d like to use a flight as a template to discuss marriage
Use some of the advice given on a flight and transfer it to marital advice
Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign. If you haven’t already done so, please stow your carry-on luggage underneath the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin. Please take your seat and fasten your seat belt. And also make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position.
Takeoff is perhaps the most dangerous time of the flight
I say a little prayer
I wonder if this plane is really going to get off the ground
More fuel and energy is expended during that time than any other time
It’s difficult to get the plane in the air
It’s difficult to get a marriage off the ground
Aren’t you amazed at some of the quick divorces we see
Dave Letterman: I think they started drifting away during the ceremony
The early years will be the most difficult and the most precaution has to be taken to get your marriage off the ground
Deut 24:5 If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.
5 ¶ When a man takes a new wife, he is not to go out with the army or be given any business or work duties. He gets one year off simply to be at home making his wife happy.
If you are newly married be aware that the first years are so critical
That’s when you get to know each other
Why does this person like Crest instead of Colgate?
Why is this person so upset that there are socks on the floor?
How can this person sit around watching football all day?
How can this person open presents on Christmas Eve?
All kinds of new experiences
Realize that the takeoff is the scariest part of the flight, but it gets better. Soon you’ll be cruising at a comfortable altitude.
In the unlikely event of a sudden loss of air pressure, the panel above your seat will open automatically & masks like these will drop down. Remain seated & pull a mask towards you. Place it over your nose & mouth & breathe normally. It is the action of pulling the mask that activates the oxygen flow. Passengers travelling with young children should fit their own mask securely before fitting masks to the children in their care
Take care of yourself, not just the kids
I used to think that was pretty mean – your kids are gasping for air and you’re supposed to take care of yourself first!
We can get so caught up in our kids lives. They are demanding. And it’s a lot of fun.
We’re no good to our kids if we are not good to each other
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Make sure you keep your spouse as your number one relationship in your life
Naturally, take care of your kids but make sure you take care of your spouse
One of the best gifts we can give to our kids is to love our spouses like the Bible tells us to
Your kids will someday be gone but your spouse will always be there
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign. We are now experiencing some turbulence. Please return your seats and keep your seat belts fastened. Thank you."
Expect turbulence
There will be difficult times
Sickness, tragedy, money problems, kid problems, parent problems
Keep your seatbelt on. Don’t jump out of the plane. Don’t go sitting next to someone else. Buckle up and stay close to your spouse.
Too many people want to bale on the marriage at the first sign of trouble
I’m not going to solve the marriage and divorce issue today or ever, but bottom line God is against divorce.
God hates divorce.
Malachi 2:16 “I hate divorce.”
When Jesus was questioned on the issue he was very forceful saying
Mark 10:2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.
4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied.
6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’
7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one.
9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
If you are divorced this is a very complicated issue and I’d be glad to discuss it with you. But bottom line is that divorce is not God’s plan for us and when it happens it is not only painful to all involved, but painful to God.
Marriage is designed to be a lifelong commitment even when we experience turbulence.
What happens when a pilot experiences turbulence? He tries to find a different altitude. He tries to find a solution. The same must be done in our marriages. When we’re experiencing turbulence we need to seek solutions. Find help. The elders, ministers are available. We have a marriage and family counselor available.
Don’t give up. I’ve seen some pretty turbulent marriages saved. Just like turbulence doesn’t last for the entire flight it usually can pass in a marriage as well.
Today we celebrate marriage to give you examples of couples who have demonstrated the kind of commitment God talks about. No doubt they have experienced turbulence, but they stand as examples of commitment. As examples of the joy of marital love.
These couples confirm that marriage is a good thing:
It’s interesting that the only time that God said, "It is not good" during His creation was when man was alone. I thank God for his wisdom in creating such a perfect complement to man (despite everything they do to irritate us! :-)
Today we honor 27 couples who are celebrating anniversaries in a multiple of five. I want you to see these people and realize the beauty if marital commitment. If you’re just on year 1 look ahead and envision 5 years. 6 – 10, 11-15 and so on. We even have some couples celebrating 50 years and 2 couples celebrating 55 years of marriage.
We’ll look at all their pictures in a minute here, but let’s recognize those who are celebrating milestone anniversaries of 25 and fifty years.
Two older gentleman were talking and one said to the other, "You’re having an anniversary soon, right?"
The other replied, "Yup, a big one... 25 years."
"Wow," said the other, "what are you going to get your wife for your anniversary?"
The other replied, "I’m giving her a trip to Australia."
"Wow, Australia, that’s some gift! "That’s going to be hard to beat. " said the other man.
I’m already planning for our 50th anniversary
What are you going to do for your 50th anniversary?"
"Go back and get her."
Marriage is to be celebrated because it also reflects the love that God has for us.
I can’t believe that Henriann can love me like she does. She knows my weaknesses, seen me at my worst and still loves me.
Her love gives me hope that God can love me too.
God does love you and wants to be yours.
