Next come the "creeping things"-lowly, humble, creatures. Though they may be insignificant, it is vital that the life of creeping things also be displayed in a Christian courtship. There are countless little details and interests which affect both partners in a courtship-countless ways in which each partner can serve the other unnoticed. These little things are the tiny threads woven throughout the fabric of life-threads that will eventually form the beautiful garment of a Christian marriage.
Marriage cannot be sustained in happiness just by having lots of cattle. Nor can it flourish if it's constantly stressed by the fear of not having enough cattle. But if the man's job and how much he is earning are the only real interests existing in a courtship, something is badly out of balance and sad times are ahead.
Suppose for instance that before they were married, whenever Jacob came in from the field and talked with Rachel about his day, she showed no interest whatsoever in how the lambs were doing, or where Jacob had fed the flock that day, the difficulties he had encountered, or how tired he had become in working to gain her.
Or suppose that Jacob showed not the slightest interest in the woman's garment that Rachel had spent the day sewing, in what had gone on among the family members that while he was away, in what food she had prepared for meals that day, or in any of the countless details of the home.
Obviously if these things had been so it would have been difficult to believe that the seven years of Jacob's hard service to earn the right to marry Rachel seemed but a few days for the love he had to her. Little details, insignificant things-these must be of interest to each partner in a courtship and marriage union.
Should one partner display absolutely no interest in the little things that interest the other, or make no effort to serve the other quietly in many unseen ways, the courtship is probably not really a living, growing thing. Certainly it's not one that is ready to culminate in marriage. Life displayed by creeping things is vital.
“She hath done what she could..." (Mark 14:8).