I recently had the privilege of attending a young couple’s marriage ceremony.  It was a beautiful day filled with smiles, and tears, as family and friends shared in this couple’s love story.

Most of us start out in marriage this way, full of hope and faith for a bright future together…wanting to love and be loved.  I remember having this conversation with my husband early on in our dating relationship.  There were no ulterior motives or grandeur expectations – we both simply wanted to love and be loved.

Surveys show that when people are asked what they are looking for most in life, it is not material things, but love.  They want to love and be loved.

Then we have to ask, “What is love?”  Looking for cues from our culture will likely leave us disappointed and confused.  Yet God’s Word paints a beautiful portrait of marriage as a depiction of Christ’s love for the church.

I was surprised by the minister’s words during the ceremony that day.  Although full of truth and wisdom, I had not heard a message quite like this at a wedding.  He admonished the bride and groom not to look to their marriage to rescue them or to solve all of their problems.  No person will ever fill the needs deep inside of us that only God can fill.  He must be first.  Then we are able to genuinely love  our mate and receive love in return – to love and be loved.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)