When God created the heavens and earth, He weaved it together in such a way that one thing connect to or needed the other — an interdependence. The very order in which He created depicts how one thing sustains another. Though everything was made for man to enjoy and provided the needed sustenance, God determined man needed more — “a helper suitable for him” (Gen. 2:18). He noted, “it is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). Hence, from the beginning, people were made to be interdependent, social beings. Surely, this has implications for ministry.
God Made People Social Beings to be in a Relationship with Him and Others
God gave Adam someone to connect with on the same level, another human being. They could communicate with one another in a way not possible with other created beings. They could experience an interdependence on the mental, emotional, and spiritual levels, not just physically.
In addition to being created to relate with other humans, people were made to have fellowship with God. It appears that in the beginning, before the fall, God would walk with Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:8). They undoubtedly talked as they walked. Though such fellowship would be blocked when they chose to sin against Him, God still made a way for people to enjoy a relationship with Him.
Implications: Let’s put our primary emphasis on developing relationships, first with God and then with one another. Remember, the Greatest Commandments are to love God with all of who we are and then to love others (Matt. 22:37-40). When we focus on relationships, we get beyond mere religious activity. We stress fellowship with God as the answer to our deepest need. We follow God’s design for Body Life in the Church wherein we care for one another in meaningful ways.
God Made People to Relate with One Another in a Supplementary Way
Though another human being, Eve wasn’t exactly the same as Adam. She was compatible but differed in ways that enabled them to compliment and supplement one another. The oneness they were to experience (Gen. 2:24) didn’t require them to look and act the same. Rather, it was dependent on them being different.
Implications: Let’s remember that God’s initial intent to bring unity out of diversity continues. It can be seen in how He established the Church (Eph. 2:11-22), bringing together two very different, even hostile, people groups to be one in Him. When we celebrate each other, respecting and accepting those different from us, we learn and grow in ways not possible on our own. Let’s promote an interdependence in our relationships with one another.
For More About God’s Design for Interdependence in the Church, Go To: Resources on Body Life