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NASB | Genesis 2:18 ¶ Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 2:18 ¶ Now the LORD God said, "It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him--a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him." |
Bible Question: Does God make being with one's life partner "challenging" or does He pave the way for them to be together? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Always... Welcome to the forum! What I have to say won't be popular, since we live in a society in which the things of the flesh are more valued than the things of the Spirit. Nevertheless, I will see if I can provide you with a few practical -- and Scriptural -- thoughts on the matter. Can you imagine any better match than our mother Eve for our father Adam? Notice in the above verse that God uses the expression "ezer neghed" -- i.e., a fit or suitable helper. When God brought Eve to Adam she was just that: a helper well suited for him. So in seeking a mate, we should find one that is fit for us (Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 18:22) -- and I mean to use that word in the general sense of Scripture. We all have various challenges in meeting the roles for which God has created us. Therefore, we ought to find someone who will make it easier for us to be what God wants us to be. Furthermore, we want a spouse for whom we can make righteousness easier, as well. Of course, that means that the first attribute for which we should seek is someone who is saved and living a life exemplary of a believer -- God will never lead a believer to marry an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14). A fit mate is one who encourages us to walk closer to the Lord, never away from Him (Proverbs 27:17). They should be people of a good reputation within their church and their community (1 Timothy 4:12). Their countenance, or overall demeanor, should reflect humility and honesty(1 Timothy 2:9), for the outside is often an expression of what is within. Their attire should reflect one who is seeking godliness (1 Peter 3:3-5). A women should demonstrate a willingness to be taught, while a man should demonstrate a willingness to teach (1 Corinthians 14:35). Watch for the kind of company the person keeps, for that is often a good indicator of worldliness or godliness (1 Corinthians 5:9-11; Ephesians 5:11). The Scripture teaches us that our marriage will be a living picture of Christ's relationship to the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Seek and pray for a spouse that will present that image as accurately as possible. Finally, realize that love is something you choose to do. It is not something that happens to you. Intentional love is what the Bible teaches. Falling in love, following your heart, and other such phrases arise out of a world that teaches that the ultimate happiness is having your needs and desires fulfilled. (Perhaps this is an earthy example, but I think it is a propos: Worldly people are like ticks looking for a big juicy dog to meet their needs forever. Of course, when they marry, what they discover is that they didn't find a dog at all, just another hungry tick!) Scriptural love seeks the highest good for self and the spouse -- God's glory! -- regardless of what is being reciprocated. I was very blessed to find a Proverbs-31-wife! She denies she is one, of course, since true humility never sees its own godly character. Meanwhile, the Lord is an active participant in every aspect of our relationship. What a joy and blessing! In Him, Doc |