Different religions observe different wedding traditions and ceremonies. Many of them use different objects to symbolize certain things which are all aimed at giving both husband and wife a strong, lasting, and love-filled relationship. And one of these objects is the wedding ring.
Believed to symbolize a boundless and infinite love, a ring is given by the bride and groom to each other after reciting their vows that no matter what happens they’ll stay together and that only death could draw them apart.
But the question is, just how important is a wedding ring in the union of a man and a woman in marriage? Do we, in the Church of God, adhere to the belief of other religions that a wedding ring is an important element of marriage because it stands for the lifelong commitment and love of the contracting parties for each other?
First of all, let me emphasize that in the Church of God we put spirituality far above everything that is natural and material. That means we value more the things that are not seen rather than the things that are seen.
As we all know, the apostles, like Paul, were direct recipients of the spirit, the teachings, and the principles that came from the Father in heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is what the Apostle Paul said in 2 CORINTHIANS 4:18,
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Surely, as far as ordinary humans are concerned, this would sound foolish. They would probably retort, “How can you look at things which are not seen?”
We have to understand that in that particular verse, the Apostle Paul was trying to point out the greater importance of the invisible, or the things that are unseen, over the things that are seen. Because, according to him, the things that are not seen are eternal, while the things that are seen are just temporal.
To say that “Things which are seen are temporal” is both biblical and scientific. We know that the things that are seen are material, or matter. Matter, or anything that is material, undergoes the process of oxidation. Because of oxidation, after a certain period of time, a thing may look different from its former appearance. For instance, gold, strong as it is, will rust in time. Its texture and color will change because of oxidation.
And because material things are just temporary, the first century Christians were admonished to give greater importance to the things that are not seen, instead of the things that are seen, like a wedding ring.
In many countries of the world, the presence of a wedding ring on the finger of a man or a woman is a public admission that he or she is already married. Apparently, the wedding rings serve as tangible proof that a man is already the husband of one particular woman, and a woman is already the wife of one particular man. Not only that, but many even regard it as something sacred.
On the other hand, if we are to go over biblical accounts, we will find out that Sarah and Abraham did not have any wedding rings; they did not wear wedding rings. But despite that, Sarah became a loyal and subservient wife to Abraham all the years of her life.
The same thing is true with Mary and Joseph. They, likewise, did not wear wedding rings because they knew that they were not supposed to set their hearts on things that are seen; and they are not supposed to rely on them.
COLOSSIANS 3:1-2 says,
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
1 PETER 3:3-6 says,
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
Sarah did not wear gold!
That is the thinking of real Christians. They do not regard earthly things higher than the spiritual because they are aware that the real intention of the Lord Jesus Christ is to detach us from the world and from the things of the world. And He doesn’t want us to think the same way as the world thinks.
ROMANS 12:2 says,
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I do not expect that everybody will understand at once what I am trying to say. It is God that opens the heart and understanding of a person. It is not within my power to make a person understand the spiritual importance of the faith in things that are not seen.
HEBREWS 11:1 gives us the definition of faith. It says,
In signing documents, contracts, and agreements, it is expected that whatever terms, provisions, or conditions had been agreed upon, which are stated in the papers, must be faithfully observed by the person affixing his signature on it. Meaning the moment a person signs a document, be it a contract or anything else, he is, in effect, entering into an agreement and he is committing himself to everything that is stipulated in that document.
What am I trying to say?
When a couple signs a marriage contract, promising to love and cherish each other, in sickness or in health, and even until death, they are expected to observe to the fullest the contract which they signed. But that hardly happens because after several years, the marriage contract that they signed seemed to have lost its efficacy, and the vows and promises they made to each other before the altar have all been forgotten. The boundless love that their wedding ring was supposed to symbolize had found its limit, and their “until death do us part” vow was found to be a mere empty promise and a simple utterance of the mouth.
But a real Christian is not like that. For a real Christian, what matters most are not the documents, but his words and the sincerity of his heart. There is always the possibility that the documents may say something different from what is in the heart of a person, or the person signing the document is hiding something in his heart. That is why for God, what counts more is what is in the heart and mind of a person, and not what is stated in the document.
Besides, the word of a real Christian can be relied on.
MATTHEW 5:37 says,
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
We are taught by the Lord Jesus Christ to let our yeses be yeses, and our noes be noes. That is why for God, your sincere, honest and truthful yes is more important than a diamond-studded wedding ring.
Verily, husbands and wives could live happily ever after even without a wedding ring.
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