Wedding rings became part of the Christian wedding ceremony in the Middle Ages for two reasons. First, precious metals symbolize that our vows are precious because they’re taken before Almighty God. Second, the unending circle signifies our commitment until death do us part. These rings remind us not to walk away when marriage requires work, trusting that God will bless our faithfulness and work all things for good.
Paul addresses how we’re to live peacefully—not just as married couples but as believers—in Ephesians 4:1-3: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
The phrase “make every effort” comes from the word spoudazo, which means to promptly act in a way that moves things forward.
Jesus shows us how essential this “spoudazo” humility is for living in peace with others. In John 13, we find Him at the Last Supper, knowing His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. In that moment, fully aware that He was King and Lord, Jesus did something stunning—He knelt down and began washing His disciples’ feet.
When He reached Peter, Peter objected. But Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (v. 7). Jesus was demonstrating that humility must be prioritized to form a bond of blessing with others. Our capacity to love and bring out the best in people is directly related to our capacity to be humble.
Peter objected again, and Jesus responded, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” (v. 8). This reveals that humility must esteem each person’s part.
Then Peter swung to the opposite extreme: “…not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” (v. 9). Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” (v. 10)
This shows that humility pours out love well. As C. S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.”
In verses 12-16, Jesus returns to His place and charges the disciples to live with humility, showing that humility must honor each person’s place to form a bond of blessing.
Friend, humility is vital to living in peace with those we love! When we choose humility, we create space for love to flourish, for unity to thrive, and for His grace to flow freely among us. Let’s follow Jesus’ example—the One who humbled Himself even to death on a cross—and love others with that same selfless, sacrificial heart. When we walk in humility, we walk in the very footsteps of Christ, and there’s no better place to be!
