I lost my wedding ring.  That’s a pretty big deal!  I removed it to do some work and it’s missing.  Fortunately, I have my original wedding ring to wear.  The one I lost was a gift by my wife a few years ago.  Now a ring is replaceable and hopefully it shows up, but what it represents is my 19 year marriage to my wonderful wife.  It wasn’t just any ring – it was my wedding ring!  Rings have been used in wedding ceremonies since the ancient Egyptians and are a visible expression of loyalty and love between married couples.

What’s interesting is my wedding ring caused an indentation on my finger visible even when my physical ring is missing.   It feels odd without it on!  That’s probably true for you as well.  Now that’s a great point to make about marriage – our very lives should be changed and the impression of marriage should alter us spirit, soul, and body.  The portable nature of the wedding ring reminds us that not even physical separation can disconnect the holy union of marriage.  Wedding rings for men became even more popular after WWII to remind men of their love and devotion to their wives at home.  Taking off my wedding ring to work in the yard doesn’t mean I’m not married at that moment.  Losing a ring doesn’t make me unmarried either.   I value the ring for what it represents – my lifelong love and commitment with my wife.

The wedding rings we wear remind us of commitment and promise in the relationship.  We all say words of commitment and responsibility at our wedding ceremonies.  When we say, “I do”, we are ultimately saying, “These words I have said today in the presence of all these witnesses and to my spouse I will uphold till the day we are separated by death.”  That’s right!  The endless design of the wedding ring circle reminds us that marriage is designed to be for a lifetime.  The precious metals and jewels we use remind us of how valuable our spouses are as well.  Quoting from Genesis 2:24, Jesus said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Matthew 19:5).  He then added this to underscore the lifelong commitment of marriage, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:6).

That ring you wear is the most important ring.  Rings can represent many milestones such as graduation, military accomplishment, and other achievement, but none is more sacred and significant than marriage.  Sometimes, the wedding rings we wear can be taken for granted and even become lost among the other rings.  One can lose the significance of love, devotion, and commitment their ring had at one time.  Someone once said baptism is the wedding ring of Christianity.  It’s the symbol that shows your commitment and the holy union of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus and being the bride of Christ.  Hopefully, no one would take off their wedding ring when they leave home and only be married at their house.  Hopefully, no believer would take that approach to be married to Jesus only in the church house.  That just won’t work.  Either you are married fully or you are not – to the Lord and to your spouse.

Maybe you’ve lost the significance your wedding ring symbolizes?  Perhaps you’re still wearing the ring physically, but there’s some separation happening in your heart and mind.  Whatever it is, Jesus knows how to make two become one once again.  He’s in the business of joining together when separation comes in our marriage.   How do you reignite that lifelong love affair once again with your spouse?  Take your spouse by the hand and the marriage band.  Go the Lord in prayer and submit yourselves to Him once again.  Remember your vows and what God has joined together.  He can do it again.

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stephenrharrison

Stephen and his wife Haley have called Arkansas home all of their lives. Stephen has served in several ministry roles over the last 25 years and as a lead pastor for the last 8 years. Stephen attended Williams Baptist College and earned a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University, an MA, MDiv, and DMin in Christian Leadership and Pastoral Ministries from Liberty University. When not pastoring, Stephen enjoys running, cycling, reading, writing, camping, fishing, and spending time with his family.