APR 22 - Genesis 2:18

Then the Lord God said,

"It is not good that

the man should be alone;

I will make him a helper as his partner."

Genesis 2:18

“It was good."

"It was good."

"It was very good!"

Have you ever read Genesis 1? It’s a constant celebration of God and the overwhelming goodness of creation. But turning to Genesis 2, I love to ask, "Do you know the first thing that scripture says is 'not good'?"

The typical answer is, "Sin." Most people know that Adam and the apple are coming soon. It’s a good guess. Nevertheless, it’s incorrect. The first thing that scripture says is "not good" is for “the man [to] be alone.” Therefore, God's answer was to make a woman, a “helper,” a “partner.”

Now … not everyone in life will get married; nevertheless, it is clear from the beginning of creation that God intended for life to be lived in relationship. Marriage is the highest of these relationships, and from the very beginning of scripture, God ordained for marriage to be a “partner[ship].”

What is partnership? Scripture says, the woman is to be the man's "helper." (We could get legalistic about this, but from twenty-five years of marital experience, I can tell you that life works best -- and is the most joyful and productive -- when the man is the woman's helper too!)

Partners! Each sacrificing personally for the sake of the whole. And when each is sacrificing, it ceases to be a sacrifice at all. It's a partnership. It's a joy. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who is not nearly as good on his own

(I need accountability. I love a partner.)