Monday, July 7, 2008

Sharing Scripture on Service at Chiu/Ignacio Wedding

What a truly cool weekend to watch two wonderful people get married. Talk about blessings! These two met at the wedding of an older sibling and then fell in love long distance... MD to China! (Charissa was studing Chinese abroad)

One of the neatest things about them them, is not only their commitment to each other, but to serving the world. I love how so many of my friends are completely sold out committed to fighting poverty and injustice in the world. I'm blow away how many are heading out on significant international projects in the next three months! Wild.

Anyway... all this in mind, Herb and Charissa asked me to not only read scripture, but share some thoughts on service as it relates to their marriage. This is what I wrote and shared...

"Herb and Charissa have asked me to share with you some scripture and a bit about something very important to them, and that’s service. Service has always been very much a part of their lives individually, and now, something they hold dear as a couple.

When we think of typical wedding scripture, we might think of Genesis and its words on God setting up the institution so that Adam would have a helper. Or we think of the verses in Ecclesiastes that talk about two being better than one and the cord of three strands, husband, wife, and God. We think of Ephesians instructing a husband to leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife. In Corinthians we get instructions on how to love. Herb and Charissa cherish these verses. But they know that you know them too, and want you to know they want their marriage to be far more than just these things.

Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Herb and Charissa know they are God’s workmanship, beautifully and wonderfully made, and that God has called them together to do good works as a team.

Herb and Charissa’s marriage will be a wonderful opportunity for them to fulfill God’s purposes for their lives, their calling to service, together. Together, as a couple they want to help fight poverty and injustice in this world. There’s so much, and God allows us to be part of the solution through sending us out. They are excited to see how God might use them together, to be his hands and feet in the world.

Service can mean a lot of things. We can be called to give of our time, our money, our possessions, our hearts, our talents or gifts. He’s equipped each of us with certain tools to serve, and he asks each of us to use those tools in various ways. Throughout their lives, Herb and Charissa will seek God to determine what he’s asking of them by way of service, moment by moment.
Whatever God asks, they want to respond generously. They know that God has given them so much and they want to use what they have been given to help a hurting world. Their thanks to God just overflows.

2 Corinthians 9:11 reads “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

Even in the monetary ebbs and flows of life, we are always rich. Rich often simply means the blessings of love, such as you too, Herb and Charissa, have for each other. Generously sharing your love alone can make quite an impact in the world. We know it’s already made a lot of impact on all of us.

For those of us who believe Jesus as Lord, service should be an important attribute of all our lives. As we strive to be more like Jesus, we do as he modeled. Mark 10:45 says… “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Herb and Charissa believe that Jesus is God. He came to earth to save us. He came to earth to serve. If he can humble himself to make his primary focus serving others, shouldn’t we?

I can think of few other institutions in this world, as beautiful and powerful as marriage. And I can think of few better motivations in this world as wonderful, than the desire to wholeheartedly serve others. In this, Herb and Charissa, your marriage will be greatly blessed.

Herb and Charissa, I am honored that you asked me to share this part of your heart with all your family and friends. We will always cheer you on in your endeavors."

1 comment:

charissa said...

we love you! you did an awesome job!! thank you :)