in Minneapolis, Minnesota for almost two decades. Our senior pastor, Dr. C. Philip Hinerman, served a remarkable multi-ethnic congregation for a total of 37 years. (Our youth pastor Art Erickson stayed for 25 years). When my pastor retired, I went back home to the dinner held in his honor. The evening was a joyous tribute to his remarkable ministry and almost 700 people turned out for the celebration. At one point in the program, the opportunity was given for people to share what they most appreciated about his four decades of ministry. Those who went to the microphone recognized his powerful preaching, far-sighted commitment to serving the inner-city, and the numerous young people he mentored into the ministry (I was one of those fortunate individuals).
Yet, the one outstanding accomplishment mentioned most often was this, “I’d like to thank you, Pastor, for the way you loved your wife. Your marriage was an example to all of us.” Person after person expressed their gratitude for the love and tenderness he displayed toward his wife over the decades. One person said, “You may not have known this, Pastor, but your marriage offered hope when our own relationship was in trouble. Your example gave us the courage to keep trying.”
Isn’t that remarkable? After 37 years of strong preaching, compassionate outreach, and providing visionary leadership, the one thing many people appreciated most was the quality of his marriage. That makes sense when you consider the high priority God’s Word gives to a loving and intimate marriage.
The impact of our marriage on the well-being of the church, our family, and those around us makes the stakes incredibly high. If we allow God to soften our hearts toward each other, the reverberations will spread far and wide — to our children, our neighbors and even the world. But if we go the opposite direction and harden our hearts, we can do irreparable damage to a wide variety of people. That’s why loving our spouse should be our first priority in life, second only in importance to our love for the Lord Jesus.
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee…This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in Him.” John 2:1, 11
Remember, marriage is for better for worse for keeps.
About Cheryl Moeller
Cheryl Moeller has been married to her best friend Bob for 30 years. They are the parents of six children, one son-in-law, and three lively dogs. She uses her over-the-counter-top stand up comedy at women's groups and retreats, prays like it's her full-time job, writes a syndicated humor column, blogs about life with lots of kids at www.momlaughs.blogspot.com, and authors books such as Keep Courting: 100 Ways to Keep Courting After Marriage (purchase on their website) and Marriage Miracle (Harvest House 2010). Bob and Cheryl's passion is to connect two hearts for a lifetime. They have co-founded For Better For Worse For Keeps Ministries www.bobandcherylmoeller.com.
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