It's really a delight to be here.
Thank you for the opportunity to share
just a few words
at your special day.
So, thank you both.
As I was thinking about what to say,
I'm glad I didn't go with my first thought,
because it would basically be the same thing
that Nathan preached,
which was really a wonderful message
about loving God
above anyone else.
So, I really appreciated that Nathan.
So I was thinking,
what practical thing could I say
to the couples here?
And so, you've all heard the saying
that honesty is the best policy, right?
And that really is true.
My wife and I have been married 28 years.
And I've been honest with people
through the years,
that my wife and I have an ongoing conflict
in our marriage.
And I'm here today
to just be honest with you all, OK?
And hopefully you can glean something
from the conflict that we have in our marriage.
So, when we got married over 28 years ago,
I knew absolutely that I was
getting the better end of the deal.
And I am convinced that that is the case.
Proverbs 31 says,
"An excellent wife, who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels."
And so through the years,
I, by the grace of God,
have been able to maintain that view,
that I really did get the better deal.
The problem is my wife
is thinking that she got the better end of the deal.
And so we've had this conflict
throughout our whole marriage,
where I know the truth,
that I got the better end of the deal,
and she still thinks that she got the better end
of the deal.
Now, I could ask for a show of hands
for those who know us -
I've done this before,
and I do win.
Everyone knows the truth.
But I think through the years,
that has been one of the things
that has really strengthened our marriage,
and helped us in our marriage,
and that is really appreciating your spouse,
above what you think,
in the sense that you realize,
men, that you really got the better end
of the deal here, don't you?
You know that.
Right?
And I know that you know that.
But I'm guessing if I were to ask
the ladies here,
they would say, no, actually,
I got the better end of the deal.
Is that probably what you're thinking?
So they already have this conflict
and they just got married,
and they haven't even gotten married yet.
But if you will, by the grace of God -
because that's really what it is -
it's only by the grace of God.
But gratefulness and appreciation
is such a huge thing in our marriage.
And by the grace of God,
never lose that.
If 30, 40 years from now,
if the Lord hasn't come,
and you're both really believing in your heart,
I got the better end of the deal,
it's really going to help your marriage.
It's really going to keep your marriage strong.
So that's my input.
You just keep remembering,
each one of you,
I got the better end of the deal.
I don't deserve to have this other one.
And that's really the truth in my marriage.
I can say it, and she's not up here.
Can I just pray for you both?
Our Father, we're thankful
for the joy of knowing Christ.
Thank You for His precious blood.
Lord, may we never, never tire
of praising and thanking You
for the work of Your Son.
Lord, we are so grateful for marriage
and the opportunity to witness
these two marriages today.
And we pray that in each couple,
each one of them would continually be
thankful for the other one.
That they would never, never think
that they're the better one in the marriage.
And Lord, I pray that You would
just encourage them with this through the years.
And make these marriages strong
for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.
And Lord, fill us all with an expectation
and a longing for His coming again.
May we say as the Apostle John,
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
And we ask this for the glory of Christ,
Amen.