My Precious

In the story the Lord of the Rings, Gollum/Sméagol finds the One Ring to rule them all and calls it his "precious." The magical, powerful ring - while impressive in its ability to make the wearer invisible - is toxic. While granting its owner long life, the ring clearly commands a worship of its owner to the point of physical and mental illness. Sméagol, and subsequently Frodo when he becomes it's bearer - are seen hovering over the ring, stroking it and hissing under their breath, "My preciousss." It becomes all encompassing to the wearer. It was so "precious" the owner would do anything to keep it safe.

Right before Christmas, I asked all our friends and family if they had any marriage advice to share. I received this email from a pastor friend of ours, Deb Trimpe at Central Presbyterian Church in Athens, GA. She wrote:

           "This isn't advice so much as a neat teaching the Lord gave us as our Tuesday morning Bible study walked through Hebrews together this Fall: Hebrews 13:4 says "Let marriage be held in honor among all." The Greek word used here for "Honor" is usually translated "precious". Here are my notes from Bible study that morning:"

          Our focus this morning is on verse 4: "Let marriage be held in honor among all." The word for honor more commonly means "precious" in the New Testament. It's the word used in 1 Corinthians 3:12 where Paul speaks of "gold, silver and precious stone." It's used in 1 Peter 1:19 in reference to the "precious blood" of Jesus. It's used in 2 Peter 1:4 to refer to the "precious and very great promises" of God. So when Hebrews 13:4 says, "Let marriage be held in honor among all," we should hear the ring of preciousness. The Bible is telling us this morning: Let marriage always be thought of as precious. Let it be treasured like gold and silver and rare jewels. Let is be revered and respected like the noblest, most virtuous person you have ever known. Let it be esteemed and valued as something terribly costly. In other words, when you think of marriage, let yourself be gripped by emotions of tremendous respect and sanctity. In relation to marriage, cultivate the feeling that this is not to be touched quickly or handled casually or treated commonly. In God's eyes, marriage is precious and therefore He says, "Let marriage be held in honor among all." 

Marriage is precious. Not the crazy, illness, obsessive-inducing precious of the One Ring, but rather precious in a sanctifying, righteous, worshipful way. If couples when they married remembered that this institution is not just civil, but rather a spiritual joining in the eyes of our Creator, perhaps they would have more reverence for it. Just as Sméagol did, willing to do anything to keep it safe. Remember that what you will have in this "two become one" miraculous joining in marriage is worth fighting for, working at, cherishing and building up till "death do us part."

Praying that your "precious" marriages will lovingly last to the glory of the One who created it.

Discussion: Do you see marriage as precious? What are ways you can respect your marriage and remember to hold it in high esteem?

Prayer: Father, you created this beautiful institution of marriage as a way to show how much you love the church. You believe it is worth cherishing, worth dying for. I pray we remember to treat our marriages with the same esteem. We love you, Father God. In Jesus, Amen.