HomeWord - Jan. 7, 2010

We Need Each Other 

This devotional was written by Mike DeVries

The book of Genesis is a book about beginnings. It tells of how our world came into being and why it is the way it is. Genesis 1-3 is a painting, an epic story, a beautifully crafted piece of poetry. And like all good poetry, its use of words and phrases are important to the overall message.

If you read Genesis 1-2, there's this phrase that is repeated over and over again in the creation story. God speaks something into existence, and it appears. God surveys His work of creation, while the following phrase is repeated over and over again: "And God saw that it was good."

This is the image that we are given of creation at the very beginning. Whatever God created, He saw as good. Everything was good. Everything was right. Everything was as it should be. Except one thing.

Genesis 2:18 captures an astounding statement. In a world where everything God has created is "good," one thing in the garden isn't - "It is not good for man to be alone."

Now what makes this statement so astounding is that it comes before Genesis 3. We have this image that everything before mankind's fall into sin was perfect and the way that God wanted it to be, but apparently there was one thing that was not working so good. Aloneness is the only thing wrong in the garden. Humanity was never meant to live life alone.

From the very beginning of creation, the portrait we see is that humanity is wired for relationship. People crave relationships. The account of Genesis 1-2 tells us why. God is a relational being, and when He created humanity in His own image, He created us as relational beings as well. A human being, out of relationship with the rest of humanity, is… well… un-human.

According to Genesis 2:18, we have a need for others. Just consider how many times God has used others in your own life, through a friend or loved one, who was "there" for you at the right moment.

46 times the New Testament reminds us of what we should be doing for "one another" - loving one another, serving one another, forgiving one another, meeting one another's needs, bearing one another's burdens… to mention just a few. The Scriptures from beginning to end proclaim this one fact - humanity was not meant to live life alone. We really do need each other.

GOING DEEPER: 

Take some time to look up and reflect upon some of the Bible references where the phrase "one another" is used. Who is doing these kinds of things for you? Who are you doing these kinds of things for?

FURTHER READING: 
Genesis 1-2

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