There’s an epidemic of loneliness which is causing all kinds of physical and mental illness. Generation Z (adults ages 18-22) and Millennials (adults ages 23-37) are lonelier and claim to be in worse health than older generations. In an article entitled How Your Church Can Respond to the Loneliness Epidemic, the former surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, is quoted as saying that loneliness causes “an insidious type of stress” that leads to chronic inflammation and an increased risk of heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. Loneliness has the same effect on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”
The most common expressions of loneliness I’ve heard over the years are:
- I need a friend
- I need help
- I need to share
- I need intimacy
These are painful cries that are causing painful lives. Loneliness is a big problem. Marriage is God’s bigger solution. It’s no surprise that loneliness has grown as marriage rates have declined and marriage break-ups have increased.
Let’s gaze and be amazed at God’s solution of marriage – both to someone of the opposite sex, and also spiritual marriage to Christ (Eph. 5:22-33).
MARRIAGE IS FOR FRIENDSHIP
- Adam was lonely: God said, “It’s not good for man to be alone” (18).
- So God gave him a best friend: Eve was to be his companion.
Marriage gives us a best friend,
But Christ is the best friend.
“A friend is great, but I need help in my daily life.”
MARRIAGE IS FOR HELP
- Adam had no helper: He named all the animals alone.
- God gave him the best helper: God said, I will make a helper fit for him” (18)
Marriage provides a helper,
But Christ is a better helper.
“I appreciate the help, but I have a craving to live a shared life.”
MARRIAGE IS FOR SHARING
- Adam was different to animals: God saw that for all the animals surrounding Adam, he could not share his life with them nor they with him (19-20)
- God gave him someone to share life with: Adam immediately recognized Eve as someone he could share his life with. “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” She’s exactly like me.
Marriage lets us share our lives,
But Christ lets us share our secrets.
“I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I need physical intimacy too.”
MARRIAGE IS FOR INTIMACY (25)
- Adam was distant from animals: He was so different to the animals; they could not give him the intimacy he craved.
- God gave him closeness: They became one flesh (24). They were both naked and both unashamed (25).
Marriage unites us physically,
But Christ unites us spiritually.
Could God have designed anything better than marriage between one man and one woman? Companionship instead of loneliness. Help instead of helplessness. Sharing instead of solitariness. Intimacy instead of distance.
Now of course, sin has entered since then. This has not only increased our need for marriage but also damaged marriage. Some never find someone to marry. Some end up in terrible marriages. Some marriages break up. Our response must not be to give up on marriage (or re-define it) but to seek spiritual marriage to Christ above all.
LIVING THE BIBLE
Find friendship, help, sharing, and intimacy in God’s gift of marriage, and ultimately in God’s gift of marriage to Christ.
This episode of Living the Bible lines up with Expedition 1: Day 6 in Exploring the Bible Together: A 52 Week Family Worship Plan and Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids. You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast here or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.
