My Brother's Getting Married In the Morning

30 years ago I proudly became an older brother.

And after years of making dens, making each other laugh, camping together, sharing rooms, annoying each other…he’s about to get married to a wonderful woman!

So what do you say when someone who you have shared so much with, who you respect and admire, is about to get married?

Here are 3 things I want to say to my brother:

 

1)      Don’t stop celebrating

Tomorrow will be amazing. I can’t wait. But bro, some people will say things like ‘You’ll never have a day life it’ or ‘this will be the best day of your life’. Let me encourage you – it gets even better. Celebrate waking up in the same bed as each other. Celebrate kissing her when you get home from work. Celebrate holding her hand 10 years down the line. Celebrate birthdays, family, food, job promotions, children and life itself. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 says: ‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’.

2)      Keep date night sacred

As time goes on, you will be tempted to prioritise others above yourself and above your wife. It might be ‘me time’. Or good things, like helping others. But bro, let me encourage you - make your first priority to spend time with your wife. To have fun. To dress up. To share your heart. To study her. To identify her love languages and then speak them to her.

 

Love her, even when it hurts. Pray for her daily; read the Bible with her; encourage her. And as you do this, you will present your wife spotless before Christ. This is your task and you’ve chosen to accept it.

 

3)      Teach others

I am constantly amazed at what God gave us as kids. Godly parents, opportunities, great experiences, Playstation 1 games, and times when you would laugh and laugh and laugh…at really random things! And bro, God has massively gifted you. Your heart for the poor beats strong. I admire your work with poor and oppressed children. You have vision to change the world for good.

Just by living you are a model to many. And now your opportunities are multiplied. As you have freely received, I pray that you would freely continue to give. Show people what it means to lay down your life for your wife. Serve together, minister together, and as you do so demonstrate to others the meaning of your marriage – a picture of Christ and the church.

 

So bro – congratulations! I love you. You are embarking on a journey of greater complexity and stress than ever before, and yet of great joy and reward too.

I look forward to being there with you and for you along the way.