A Promise to Keep

 

I tried to find some statistics on what percentage of married people wear wedding bands. It turns out, nobody really knows. I received my ring June 14, 1997, and, and it has never been off. There are many other people can say the same.

The traditional vows, with regards to the exchange of wedding rings, have changed a little over the years in the Book of Common Worship of the PCUSA:

From 1928: With this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I endow, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,

From 1946: I do promise and covenant; Before God and these witnesses; to be thy loving and faithful (wife or husband); In plenty and want; In joy and in sorrow; In sickness and health as long as we both shall live.

From 2018: By your blessing, O God, may these rings be symbols of unending love and faithfulness and signs of the covenant they have made this day, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

There have been some changes in the last one hundred years. The commitments are more nebulous, the promises leave room for interpretation, and the vows are more hopeful than restrictive. However, we still make promises to one another. We still exchange some symbol of our commitment, but what I want to call to your attention most is the ring on your hand, if you wear one, is not a reminder of your commitment. It is a reminder that there is someone who committed to you! It is a symbol that someone has a claim in you, and that they are counting on you.

Earthly marriages can fail. At times people lose sight of the promises they made. Something, or someone, is more interesting. At times we find we just do not know how to live out those lofty ideals we had on that special day. The commitment can be challenging work.

Despite our failures in our relationships, the favorite Biblical illustration of our relationship with God is still that of a marriage. The Church is often called the Bride of Christ, and Baptism is that “ring” that reminds us that someone now has a claim on us. God is the perfect spouse. He is forgiving. He is steadfast. He will stand by you through all things, for better or worse, in sickness and health, through this life and beyond. When things are difficult, remember your Baptism. Yes, it can be a sign of your promises to God, but beyond that, it is your reminder that God has a claim on you that will not fade.

Craig C. Krueger