Created to be Dependent.
Independence. A uniquely artificial culture. Every where I look, I see co dependence. I see the family as a national priority. I see families where no one moves out of the house soon as they are able. I see the village truly raising the child. I see children outside playing with one another, I see that in other communities, when one needs help, all pitch in. I see an affinity, a connection, a brotherhood.
Why then do we strive to be independent? Why do we seek to be free from everyone else? Why do we allow our pride to shut out those around us? Why do we see see dependence as weakness? In Genesis 2:18 we see that we were created to be dependent. That scripture says:"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
Notice the first part of the verse. It identifies the speaker as "the LORD God." In the hebrew that translates as YHWH Elohim. YHWH is the personal name of God. Elohim however is the plural of the word eloah which is the word "god" in the generic sense. So before we even get to the second part of the verse we see that God himself is not alone! This is also evident in the first chapter of Genesis when God (Elohim) said let us (look! he wasn't alone!) make man in our image. If God is not alone and we were created in his image (literally to be a "phantom" copy) then it follows that we should not be alone. We were created to be dependent!
"It is not good for man to be alone." This sentence leaves open the possibility for existence without human dependence for it does not say that such is impossible. if we examine the scriptures, man had a decent life before woman was created. He had shelter, he had food, he was an intelligent person, a zoologist, botanist, herbologist, and a biologist. He also had an knowledge of history from the beginning of the world. He was well equipped to survive on his own, but it was not good for man to be alone.
See even before the creation of woman, man was a dependent being. For while man had everything, it was all provided by God. Man depended on God for his sustenance, indeed his very existence. For it was the breath of God that flowed through his nostrils, and so man was created to be dependent!
"It is not good for man to be alone." Adam was the only human being around. I can imagine Adam thinking as he was naming the animals, "These animals come in pairs but I, O Lord, am alone." So the LORD God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." It's a bad thing, for a man, to be left to his own devices, it is a bad thing for a man, to be "independent" I know that sounds crazy, but that's bible. But why? The clue is in the next part.
"I will make him an help meet for him." That word "help" means to aid, and that word "meet" means a counterpart or opposite.(H5828, H5048 Strongs Hebrew Lexicon) In other words, No matter how well off Adam was, how laid back he was or how much he was enjoying, "the good life," Adam needed help. There was something missing from Adam, something not self contained. Adam was created to be dependent.
How was Adam "completed?" How did Adam fulfill his created order? God created Woman. Why? Because the only way Adam, being created in the image of God, could be complete was if he had help. He was created to be dependent. He needed companionship, he needed help, and he needed completion.
As I reflect on the woman in my life, I see that I was created to be dependent. To be surrendered to her. To be her counterpart, and she mine. There is a terribly great amount of emotion as I write these words, because she is my heart. Being with her, I know that I was created to be dependent. Sure I could get my degree, get a good job, settle into the life of a Christian bachelor and exercise, as Paul calls it, "the gift of singleness." Instead, I choose to dedicate my life my service, and due benevolence to her for the rest of my life.
Examine yourselves, pray and seek God on this matter. You were created to be dependent. Maybe not on a spouse or girlfriend, but on God and someone. you were created to be dependent.
I will leave you with these words from scripture.
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 KJVR)
Why then do we strive to be independent? Why do we seek to be free from everyone else? Why do we allow our pride to shut out those around us? Why do we see see dependence as weakness? In Genesis 2:18 we see that we were created to be dependent. That scripture says:"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
Notice the first part of the verse. It identifies the speaker as "the LORD God." In the hebrew that translates as YHWH Elohim. YHWH is the personal name of God. Elohim however is the plural of the word eloah which is the word "god" in the generic sense. So before we even get to the second part of the verse we see that God himself is not alone! This is also evident in the first chapter of Genesis when God (Elohim) said let us (look! he wasn't alone!) make man in our image. If God is not alone and we were created in his image (literally to be a "phantom" copy) then it follows that we should not be alone. We were created to be dependent!
"It is not good for man to be alone." This sentence leaves open the possibility for existence without human dependence for it does not say that such is impossible. if we examine the scriptures, man had a decent life before woman was created. He had shelter, he had food, he was an intelligent person, a zoologist, botanist, herbologist, and a biologist. He also had an knowledge of history from the beginning of the world. He was well equipped to survive on his own, but it was not good for man to be alone.
See even before the creation of woman, man was a dependent being. For while man had everything, it was all provided by God. Man depended on God for his sustenance, indeed his very existence. For it was the breath of God that flowed through his nostrils, and so man was created to be dependent!
"It is not good for man to be alone." Adam was the only human being around. I can imagine Adam thinking as he was naming the animals, "These animals come in pairs but I, O Lord, am alone." So the LORD God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." It's a bad thing, for a man, to be left to his own devices, it is a bad thing for a man, to be "independent" I know that sounds crazy, but that's bible. But why? The clue is in the next part.
"I will make him an help meet for him." That word "help" means to aid, and that word "meet" means a counterpart or opposite.(H5828, H5048 Strongs Hebrew Lexicon) In other words, No matter how well off Adam was, how laid back he was or how much he was enjoying, "the good life," Adam needed help. There was something missing from Adam, something not self contained. Adam was created to be dependent.
How was Adam "completed?" How did Adam fulfill his created order? God created Woman. Why? Because the only way Adam, being created in the image of God, could be complete was if he had help. He was created to be dependent. He needed companionship, he needed help, and he needed completion.
As I reflect on the woman in my life, I see that I was created to be dependent. To be surrendered to her. To be her counterpart, and she mine. There is a terribly great amount of emotion as I write these words, because she is my heart. Being with her, I know that I was created to be dependent. Sure I could get my degree, get a good job, settle into the life of a Christian bachelor and exercise, as Paul calls it, "the gift of singleness." Instead, I choose to dedicate my life my service, and due benevolence to her for the rest of my life.
Examine yourselves, pray and seek God on this matter. You were created to be dependent. Maybe not on a spouse or girlfriend, but on God and someone. you were created to be dependent.
I will leave you with these words from scripture.
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 KJVR)
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