Community Is God’s Design

By Pastor Dan Hickling

“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”—Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)

As we saw yesterday, God created man on the sixth day. But it didn’t take long for Him to address an undeniable need that man had—the need for community.

God met this need by making a “helper comparable to him.” After causing the man to settle into a deep rest, He created a woman from a rib taken from the man’s side (Genesis 2:21–23). They were of the same race, yet different and distinct from each other. 

The Lord’s purpose in doing this extended beyond the need for community, as it became the basis for the first marriage and served as the procreative union that would give birth to all of humanity. There was a physical need being met, but there was also an emotional need met.

Man needed another person to relate to. Keep in mind, we’re still in the pre-sin stage of human history. We hadn’t disobeyed God yet, but there was still something missing. Man, though sinless in nature, was by himself. Sure, he was surrounded by an entire world full of animals, and the indication is they were all drawn to him (Genesis 2:19). But no amount of animal interaction could compensate for the fact that man still had an inherent need to interact with another human being.

This need for community runs deeper than we often realize. Remember, it was God who recognized the need within man before it ever registered with man. And again, that need proceeded the fall. It was already “baked in,” if you will. It was deliberately placed there by God. And He did so knowing just how He would satisfy this ingrained appetite. Both the need for community as well as the provision of community was by God’s deliberate design.

There’s a survival series out there right now called, “Alone.” Ten people are dropped into total isolation in the Arctic or some other inhabitable environment. The goal is to go the longest amount of time in those conditions before radioing for rescue. The winner gets rewarded with a lifestyle-altering amount of money, so there’s a strong incentive to keep on going. 

Sometimes people have to “tap out” because they’re unable to find any food, suffer an injury, or accidentally burn their shelter down. But by far, most people drop out because they long for companionship—they miss their spouse, children, family, and friends. As a veteran viewer, I can predict with a fair degree of accuracy who will drop out next by the way they talk more and more about the people in their lives they miss. The prize money can’t overcome the overwhelming need for community. 

God’s proclamation in Genesis echoes over the ages that it’s not good for us to be alone. The need for others runs deep in our DNA, which is according to God’s plan for our lives. 

Pause: What does this passage reveal about God’s plan for our lives?

Practice: Share with someone how your own personal life experiences attest to this reality of the importance of community as it pertains to God’s plan.

Pray: Father, help me recognize the depth of my need for community as well as Your desire to provide this need in my life. Amen.