Together: The Wedding of Travis and Tiffany Vold

Together 

The Marriage of Travis Vold and Tiffany Larson – 1/10/2025

Matthew 19:4-6

Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer

That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration today is our third reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today is a momentous occasion. Travis and Tiffany are vowing themselves to each other and thereby entering into God’s estate of holy matrimony. That is to say, they are getting married. And this is a good and God-pleasing thing. God delights in marriage.

The first social institution God created was marriage; it even predates the fall into sin, as our reading from Genesis chapter 2 reminds us. Our Lord Jesus, who is Himself God in the flesh, worked His first miracle in support of a wedding feast in Cana. And throughout the Scriptures, marriage is spoken of in reverent and joyful tones.

All of this is to say something rather simple: God delights when people receive and enjoy His good gifts. This is, in fact, His preferred way of dealing with us. He does not demand that we climb our way up to Him; rather, He relates to us by giving His good gifts freely. Today, we focus on one of those gifts: marriage.

God gives marriage for several reasons. Genesis reminds us that God knows it is not good for man to be alone, so He gave Adam the gift of Eve, his wife. While some are given the gift of celibacy, most desire the companionship of a spouse. And God, in His mercy, has provided man and woman to be lifelong companions for one another.

But marriage is more than a remedy for loneliness. It establishes a new reality. Both Genesis and our Lord Jesus describe this as becoming one flesh. In marriage, husband and wife now belong first to one another. This means that even parents, in-laws, and yes, even children take a secondary place.

This can be challenging, especially since you have spent many years as a son and a daughter in your respective families. But going forward, your greatest earthly responsibility and joy is now to belong to each other.

With this gift comes responsibility. As with many of God’s good gifts, marriage must be carefully stewarded. You are to forsake all others. That is, you are to live in exclusive marital faithfulness to one another. You are to keep your vows, even when doing so is emotionally difficult or costly. Love is important, but affection alone cannot sustain a marriage; faithfulness to your vows does.

You are also to live as one in practical ways. You are to work through disagreements together rather than publicly. Do not run off to social media, the group chat, or the bar to complain about the other one. You are to share your lives, your possessions, and your resources. God declares that you are one, and learning to live that reality takes patience, humility, and trust.

This mutual dependence can feel intimidating in a culture that prizes independence and autonomy. Yet God gives marriage precisely so that you might be freed from serving only yourselves and instead live in faithful service to one another.

Because man and woman are distinct, the roles of husband and wife are also distinct.

Travis, you are called to serve as the head of your household. Scripture teaches that all authority comes from God and is never given for personal gain or self-interest. Authority is given for good order and for the protection and care of those entrusted to it. Your calling is to love your wife sacrificially. That means serving her, protecting her, and seeking her good, even at great cost to yourself.

Tiffany, you are called to receive and support this loving leadership. The word submission can sound frightening in a culture shaped by suspicion of authority, but it is, at its heart, a Christian posture. Christ submits Himself to the Father. Christians submit themselves to Christ’s Word. This submission is not slavery or diminishment, but a willing and faithful service shaped by love. When husband and wife serve one another in these ways, marriage becomes a place where God’s blessing is richly experienced.

Marriage is not only responsibility; it is also a profound blessing. It creates a public, accountable bond. It is one that is not easily abandoned. This permanence is intentional and good. As our Lord teaches, marriage is meant to be lifelong.

Each of us has quirks, weaknesses, and habits that are less than endearing. We often worry whether others will remain once those things become visible. In most relationships, we present curated versions of ourselves. Marriage, however, has a way of removing the masks. Over time, you will come to see one another as you truly are.

And here is the remarkable gift: your spouse remains. There are few comforts greater than realizing that your husband or wife knows you fully and chooses to stay. This stability provides a deep sense of security and peace.

God also gives marriage as the proper setting for the gift of children. Children, when they are given, are a great blessing and a serious responsibility. They are entrusted to parents for care, instruction, love, and  especially the great honor of teaching them about the mercy and love of God. God willing, you may one day receive this gift and the joy of shaping new lives. And if children do not come, or not in the ways expected, marriage itself remains a full, meaningful, and honorable vocation. Your life together is already a gift.

Of course, even the strongest marriages will experience tension. There will come a day when you, Tiffany, suddenly realize that the way Travis cuts his fingernails is the worst thing on the face of the planet or when you, Travis, suddenly know that Tiffany’s hair routine is super annoying. Or maybe it will be when you disagree about how you spend your money, your time, or how to handle holidays with the family. Differences and even disagreements will emerge and these moments will test your patience and humility.

And yet, they also open the door to one of marriage’s greatest gifts: forgiveness. Scripture teaches that marriage reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church. At the heart of that relationship is forgiveness. Christ does not abandon His bride when she fails. He forgives her, restores her, and remains faithful to her even in the midst of her failures and sins.

This should also be the case in your marriage. As you forgive one another, just as Christ has forgiven you, you will find healing, renewal, and joy. A lasting marriage is not built on pursuing perfection, but on mercy freely given and freely received in forgiveness. Two sentences that should use often and mean each time are “I’m sorry,” and “I forgive you.”

And this brings us finally to Christ Himself. Every good gift in marriage, faithfulness, patience, forgiveness, and love, flows from Him. Jesus Christ gave Himself fully and faithfully for His bride, the Church. He binds Himself to her not because she is perfect, but because He is faithful to His promises to her. It is this same Christ who now blesses your marriage, who sustains you when love feels costly, and who forgives you when you fail. As you return again and again to His mercy, God will sustain your life together. May He grant you many years of joy and peace.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.