Another’s Wedding

The older we become, the more events we experience, and the richer our observational experience becomes.

Throughout my life I have attended many wedding celebrations, and then I would always observe the newly formed families, wishing to understand the secret of their marital happiness or unhappiness.

Another’s wedding is such an event that always arouses special interest! It is pleasant to see the bride and groom, who are inevitably dressed up, happy, and radiant. It is extremely interesting to watch how two different people become one, how they look at each other, what beautiful expectations and grand plans they have for their union.

Although there are usually many guests, and everyone wishes the young family love and happiness, you always want to congratulate them in some special way and share your sincere joy for them, becoming a special friend in their life. However, you later realize that there are many with such intentions, while the bride and groom need each other more and are not thinking about you at that moment, so you quietly step aside and wait until you are needed.

Other people’s weddings can vary – from modest gatherings with two witnesses to large assemblies of all sorts of friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, and church brethren. And all is paid for with silver. But every time this event is held with joy and expectation of something wonderful and promising happiness.

When the solemn words of counsel and blessing are pronounced, you believe that all this will surely come true for this family, and that, joyfully passing through all difficulties, they will come out victorious, because that is the very reason they are creating their family.

Since marriage is God’s project, it is the Lord Himself who unites two different people, by their consent, into one whole person. Even if these people do not believe in God, the very fact of their union and their solemn promise to become husband and wife before representatives of the highest state authority is sufficient for their marriage to be considered lawful. Yet God always desires to give something more and willingly blesses all who seek His blessing as well.

At worldly celebrations, it is somehow customary to drink alcohol. Through this, many newlyweds, without realizing it, invite demons, who bewitch people and push them into all sorts of foolish acts. And all this sometimes ends very tragically. However, many worldly people already have it ingrained in their minds that a wedding without alcohol is not a real celebration, and that there will be no joy there.

But when you attend a sacred celebration where the bride and groom belong to God, you see how their dedication is reflected in the organization of the wedding celebration:

* No alcohol;

* Wisely chosen music;

* A solemn wedding program;

* Clean and wholesome food on the tables;

* Respectful treatment of all guests;

* Absence of foolishness and vulgarity;

* Decent clothing on the bride;

* A reverent atmosphere of the celebration, and much more that attracts God’s angels and inclines the hearts of people to friendly fellowship and holy joy over the creation of a new family.

From my many years of observation, I can confidently conclude that those newlyweds who approach the choice of a life partner and the preparation of the wedding celebration with reverence and care later turn out to be just as pure and reverent before God’s law in their family life. Although exceptions are possible.

It is interesting to observe guests from the world when they attend a Christian wedding without alcohol and dancing for the first time. They feel great surprise and tension, thinking it will be boring. But when God’s presence touches their hearts, they then experience heavenly joy and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Heaven, marveling afterward how one can be happy while having a sober mind. God knows how to make everyone joyful, bypassing worldly traditional views and rules.

Already as a believer, I was obliged to attend the wedding celebrations of worldly people. Though the atmosphere was not always reverent, the prepared meals and food not always wholesome and clean, and the background music not at all holy, yet with God’s help I managed to keep my conscience clean and strictly adhere to the principles I was taught in God’s Church. Sometimes, knowing in advance what the cuisine would be, I would warn the bride and groom that there were certain foods I did not eat, and they usually took care to provide me with suitable food.

How interesting it is to attract attention by living according to God’s principles! Everyone immediately becomes curious how it is possible to live this way. And you direct their gaze away from yourself and your plate to Christ and to that light of the Health Reform which the Lord has given to the world. And meaningful conversations result.

When your heart is filled with love and friendliness, when you want to care for others, to give and to rejoice, then others notice this spirit as well, and very likely they will willingly receive and listen to what you wish to share with them. Love knows how to speak even to strangers in the right language. Another’s wedding is not only a celebration for your soul, but also for all the invited guests. And with such an attitude, it is very easy to gain new friends and discover new hearts.

When one of my close relatives decided to celebrate his wedding on a Sabbath, at first I refused to attend this event, but then my friend explained to me that I must be there for the sake of this person. I disagreed with this viewpoint, and to understand who was right, I sent a description of this problem to many trusted pastors and spiritual mentors. I needed an answer as to how to act. And all unanimously answered me that I should attend this wedding, which I did. One must learn everything and draw conclusions, even if sometimes it is very difficult to break certain stereotypes in the mind.

Christ said that until His Second Coming people will be marrying and giving in marriage. Therefore, we must learn with what spirit and purpose we should attend such events.

Once I was even asked to preach a sermon at another’s wedding. It was unexpected, but the Lord gave the necessary words and reminded me of the truths I could share with others. And I noticed that the public counsel you share with the bride and groom is often very helpful to the guests as well, because it helps them reconsider something in their own family relationships. So, one must always be ready for such surprises. We do not know when the Lord will give us an attentive audience and to which wedding He will bring us, but today’s learning of God’s truths will prepare my heart to always give an answer for my hope and to share that love which everyone needs.

The very first event at which Jesus performed His miracle was another’s wedding. The Savior attended and blessed it. It is worth remembering that sometimes we may be the only representatives of Christ at someone’s wedding, through whom the Lord can give His blessing to a new family. And let the “shoes of readiness” to proclaim the Gospel to the world always be in their place at any time of year. And the Lord, seeing our readiness, will surely find where and when to send us.

Also remember that your wedding, though it will be another’s for others, may become a testimony of the best and happiest life in Christ.

1. Please read Matt. 22:2-5; 25:10; Rev. 19:7-9; 21:9; Isa. 6:8; 61:1-3; Eph. 6:13-18; Eccl. 8:15; 9:7-10; Ps. 34:28; Prov. 1:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:23; 9:16; 2 Tim. 4:2-4 in the light of this lesson.

2. What other Bible verses came to your mind?

3. What did you understand from this topic?

4. Have you often attended other people’s weddings? If so, what did you experience at that time?

5. Do you know that there will also be a Wedding celebration in Heaven?

6. Do you want the Heavenly wedding to be yours, and not another’s?

7. What should one do so as not to merely hear of another’s wedding of the Lamb and His bride, but to be there?

8. Should the Heavenly Bridegroom know His bride before the wedding and spend time with her?

9. Do you think the Lord is now offering His hand and heart to His beloved to prepare her for the wedding celebration?

10. Does God’s people of the last days have any special advantage over believers of other times in the history of Christianity?

11. Why do you think Jesus, regardless of persons, loved to attend all sorts of celebrations and meals to which He was invited? Luke 15:2.

12. Should we remember the example of Jesus and not forget our mission?

13. What does another’s wedding mean to you? Delicious food, the opportunity to make new friends and share something useful, or something else?

14. Is there a difference between a worldly wedding and a Christian wedding? If so, what is it?

15. Should we attend worldly weddings if we are invited?