The Trousseau

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a trousseau is:

the personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories, and
household linens and wares.

On the About.com website, they have an article which states the following.

“According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language(Fourth
Edition, 2000):
trous·seau, n. [French, from Old French, diminutive of
trousse, bundle. See truss.] The possessions, such as clothing and linens, that
a bride assembles for her marriage.
Throughout history, single young women
all over the world have prepared for their change in marital status by
accumulating a trousseau. A traditional trousseau -- stored in a hope chest --
included bridal accessories, jewelry, toiletries and makeup, plus bed linens and
bath towels for her new home.

From Victorian times till today, the
trousseau also has consisted of brand-new outfits to see a woman through her
wedding, honeymoon, and newlywed days.
Oftentimes the garments in a
trousseau were hand-sewn by a mother, aunt, grandmother, or the girl
herself, if skilled with a needle. Wealthier families procured the skills of a
professional seamstress to outfit the bride-to-be.”

In other words, the trousseau contains those things that the bride has been accumulating to prepare for her upcoming wedding and marriage – mostly clothing.

As Christians, we should be preparing ourselves for our upcoming nuptials with our Lord Jesus Christ. In the book of the Revelation, John records the occasion when a great shout of praise could be heard through the heavens.

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing
waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Rev 19:6-8 NIV

Here we see that the bride, who is the church, the body of believers, (See “The Prepared Bride 1) has gotten herself ready for her wedding by making for herself a robe of fine linen. These vestments are explained in the passage as the righteous acts of the saints. Therefore, part of this bride’s trousseau involves doing the right things.

We can set aside for ourselves treasure as well.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you
the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses
for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be
exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:32-34 NIV

Notice that Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also.” Your heart follows your treasure, those things that you deem as precious and dear. It is not the other way around!

Paul talks about treasure as well. Read this passage carefully.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and
someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he
builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid,
which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using
gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for
what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with
fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what
he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up,
he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping
through the flames. 1 Cor 3:10-15 NIV

Paul states that each man’s works will be tested by fire. You can substitute the word “acts” in there to shall that each man’s acts will be tested to reveal the quality. The difference being that wood, hay and straw are consumed by fire whereas gold and silver are purified by fire and costly stones are revealed through fire. If what he has constructed in his life, what he has done in his life withstands the test of God’s presence, he will be rewarded.

Now this is not to say that we are saved through works. We are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus. However, we prepare our trousseau, those things which we will bring to the wedding and the marriage in eternity by that which we do now!

What is in your trousseau? Will it stand the test of fire proving to be made of righteous acts and willing sacrifice or will it be destroyed in the presence of your groom revealing your selfishness and sin?

Everyday, you decide what is in your trousseau!