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Verse:But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” —Ruth 1:16, 17
Do you remember the nicest wedding ceremony you ever attended? What made it stand out above all others? Beautiful decorations, well-dressed people, touching moments all capture our focus at a wedding, but nothing attracts our attention like the sight of the bride in her dress. Some people believe that the larger and more ostentatious a wedding ceremony, the happier the couple will be in life.
But that is not necessarily the case! One of the most magnificent wedding ceremonies ever took place on July 29, 1981, at Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London. The “wedding of the century,” as it was called, was attended by 3,500 guests and watched by some 750 million TV viewers worldwide.
The bride’s engagement ring consisted of fourteen solitaire diamonds surrounding a 12-karat oval blue Ceylon sapphire, set in 18-karat white gold.
Her wedding dress became known as one of the most famous dresses in the world. Indeed, everything seemed perfect for Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer to live happily ever after. The couple had two lovely sons (Princes William and Harry), and Diana said she believed that “family is the most important thing in the world.” But tragically, Charles and Diana separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.
Almost all couples promise to love, honor, and cherish their spouses for a lifetime, regardless of the circumstances —“as long as you both shall live,” “till death us do part.” Some even include Ruth’s vow to Naomi (see Ruth 1:16, 17) as their own marriage covenant. Given these heartfelt pledges, why do people change their minds so easily and no longer honor their vows? One problem is that, often, marriage is nothing more than a means of self-gratification. Some churches perform wedding recommitment services for married couples. But there is no need to wait for these services, which are held only occasionally. Couples should renew their vows regularly at home.
Plan a simple ceremony recommitting yourselves to God and to each other, and God’s blessing will rest on you and your family.