There is a saying that “No person is an island.” As human beings we don’t cope well when isolated from others. We need to be part of a community in order to thrive. Our lives are interconnected with those around us. While it is occasionally wise to take some time to be away from others, it’s not how we were made to live permanently!
We see this human interconnection strongly within families. While families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, within many families there is great love and affection. Although, there can also be some disagreements!
But could you imagine a world without any families?
In our reading in Genesis 2, before sin entered our world, God created the first family—a husband and wife. We are all related to them!
After completing most of creation and declaring it good, God suddenly says something isn’t good! It isn’t good for the man to be alone. He needed a companion, someone who would be with him and who would correspond to (or match) him! Also, there were some things he couldn’t do alone, like have children!
None of the animals were a good match. But when he saw the woman God made using his side, he was very impressed—did you notice his “at last” in verse 23!
Both the man and woman were equally made in God’s image, and they are also both different from each other. They complement one another beautifully. Sometimes as women we can think of complementing a man as being a negative thing. This is often due to the breakdown of relationships between men and women, caused by sin.
Take a minute to think of a good, healthy marriage you personally know well. There will be much that the couple has in common, but there will also be many differences. These differences are likely used to support and help each other. That is complementing each other.
My husband is a planner. I am more of a “we will see what happens” kind of person. When we were first married, this caused some friction as he wanted Saturdays to be planned so we didn’t waste time. I wanted to relax, without having to plan everything. Over time, we have learned the best of both options. His planning means we get to do things we couldn’t if we left everything to the last minute. My “let’s see what happens” attitude means we can enjoy some of those lovely unplanned adventures.
God created us for relationships, not only with Him, but also with each other. It is part of being made in the image of our triune God—the three in one and one in three. God has a perfect perpetual relationship within Himself. Our family relationships and friendships reflect how we are made in God’s likeness.
When we look at how the new heaven and the new earth are described, we see a family feasting together, as we are all God’s adopted children. We will be part of one perfect family.
Each day we have on earth we have the opportunity to reflect to others the love and care our heavenly Father shows us. This can be in small ways but they can have a big impact on the lives of others.
It might be:
- providing a meal to a family who has a loved one in hospital.
- sending a parcel to a missionary missing home.
- giving food to someone living on the streets.
- praying with someone who received bad news.
- buying a new mom’s hot drink.
- volunteering to help at church.
We have many opportunities every day to be ambassadors for Christ.
In what ways can you take the opportunity to reflect more of God’s love to people around you? What can you do to help in your community? How can you help to strengthen your friendships, marriage, and other family relationships? What can you do to improve your relationships within your church family and with other brothers and sisters in the Lord?
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.” – James 3:13
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