Friday Night Message: The Blessing of Marriage

Feb. 17, 2023

Good evening brethren,

Sue and I have been married for over 46 years now.  Like everyone else, we have had many different kinds of trials, and have thankfully endured those times together, trying to learn God’s purpose or reason for allowing the trial, and hopefully change and grow as a result.  I am so glad that I have shared all of that with my wife.  It would have been more difficult to endure those trials without my wife, my longtime companion in life.  I also believe that I have lived a more fulfilling life because of sharing those experiences.

Gen 2:18 – And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.

Perhaps verse 18 could be rephrased as, "It is not good that man be independent."  Here are samples of how other versions of the Bible have translated “a helper comparable to him”. 

• A helper as his counterpart – Young’s Literal Translation

• A helper suited for him – American Baptist Publication Society

• A mate of his own kind – A Translation by Ronald Knox

• A suitable helper, completing him – New Berkley Version

• A partner for him – New English Bible

Our God establishes principles and patterns in His Word from which we can extract wisdom, and then apply that wisdom in the practical application of God’s truth in our lives.  Some of the most basic and fundamental knowledge regarding His purpose is established early in the first book of the Bible.

Prov. 111:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. 

What is God trying to teach us in Gen. 2:18?  In relation to God's purpose, the most and the best will probably not be produced in us if we are alone.  The apostle Paul is a noteworthy exception.  But for most of us, if we are too independent, we remove ourselves from the circumstances that will produce the most toward His plan and purpose.  In this specific context, God is not commanding everyone to marry, but He is clearly teaching that marriage is, for most of us, better than remaining single.

Christians understand from their own experiences that the more people who comprise a unit or community, the greater the probability of having a larger number and greater intensity of problems.  This occurs largely because our carnality drives us to compete rather than cooperate.  Living a life of service to others is so much more fulfilling than seeking to be served. 

Matt. 20:25-28 – Jesus called the disciples to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your servant, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Sometimes a person desires so strongly to be independent of this kind of community relationship that he separates himself in order to be completely free from the suspicions, distrust, offenses, power plays, and other hardships and dysfunction that occur within a group. 

To put it another way, it is very similar to a soldier running away from the battlefield to protect himself.

II Tim. 2:3 – You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

Although Paul was not married, he wrote the verses below in his letter to the church of God at Ephesus… A final consideration is that husband and wife together can help each other in a spiritual manner, sharing their common goals and faith at a level that is not usually known or experienced by singles. 

Eph. 5:20-21 – …giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Bottom Line is that those who are unmarried can tend toward more selfishness and self-interest than those who are married.  It can be a self-serving avoidance of being useful, avoidance of contributing steadfast strength and encouragement to other brethren, avoidance of being a right example to others, avoidance of being found wrong and corrected..

Have a restful Sabbath,

Fred