Some of you are probably wondering why today we moved to Genesis in the daily Bible readings, but if you are up to date, you also know that yesterday's reading was Jesus' views on divorce. Today the story is about Adam and Eve and their garden home. It's the story of their beginnings, describing how they were each created, where they were created, and especially why they were created.
Verse 15 tells us that Man was made to work the ground and to keep it in order and that all else, other living creatures, were made as companions for Man and that the most suitable companion that God created was woman. This story is not simply a story of the origin of humanity, but an important truth about it. Man and woman are different inside and out, but one of the many things they have in common is their need for companionship.
While it is true, there are many people who are most satisfied when they are alone, most of us need companionship. (And I would argue that even those who claim to be happiest when alone have withdrawn from companionship because of some past hurts or disappointments. It is their fear of being hurt again that keeps them alone, but inside they long for companionship.) That's who we are, people who need people. Maybe not a lot of interaction, some need more than others. My wife would be happy just to stay in smaller groups, I desire the larger ones. She loves to be at home with the family, I love to invite guests to share with our family. She enjoys sitting at home watching a DVD together, I love going to the theater. We are different, yet we need the companionship.
This says to us that in God's design humans are incomplete alone. We need others. We were made to be in community, in relationship with other humans, developing friendships, sharing time, being intimate with another human. The ultimate form of this companionship is marriage, husband and wife, with their different attributes made to compliment one another so that they may share life. This is also the most beautiful companionship when it's allowed to work, when it is made to work.
I could illustrate it, but a recent book and subsequent film that shows the beauty of a marital relationship is The Notebook. It is the story of two people who pursued each other and built their life together in a true sacrificial love. I won't spoil it for you if you haven't read or watched, but let's leave it to say that we see marriage in a way that was meant to be for two humans who lived their whole lives deeply in love with each other. They needed each other because that's how were were wired up. We need the touch, the face, the heart of another human.
Who is your companion, best friend, confidant, lover? (yes, it is okay to have one of those, but only if it is your spouse! God created that part of us, too, to enjoy!) Whether married, single, widowed or divorced, all of us need companionship in the form of some healthy relationship. God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone." (Gen. 2:18, The Message) The same is true of Women. Hug your spouse, call your friend, reach out to someone because we need each other. It's how we were created.
Peace ><>
PC
2 comments:
So true that God made us separate creations..yet in need of each other. The defined difference is in His exact choice.. I understand that it could be so much easier for same sex couples... females understand each other so much better than a male can understand another woman and vice versa. But God understood this as he went about designing relationships between male and female, being about connecting in heart and spirit... loving a person designed by God as our physical opposite..learning to respect, connect and love them. His Choice for us!
Alone is not what God chose for Adam... alone is not a true choice for people. There is a human need to connect. There is something inherent about how God chose to populate this earth and to continue to add to His family.
God made us in His image. Both males and females are given different aspects and characteristics of Him. Neither male nor female have all of God's attributes, but together we can have a much fuller understanding of the nature of God. Therefore, God ordained us to form the marraige union of male and female for not only His wishes, but so that we can better understand Him ourselves through the differences we each have with our spouses. Praise the Lord for revealing Himself to each other in this most holy way - through each other!
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