While most of us may enjoy a little private time, we do not want to be alone for too long. We need contact with people to be happy, for support and comfort, and because we need to belong. It is the way God made us; as He said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” (Gen. 2:18)

In what way was Adam alone in the Garden? After all, he had God and the animals to keep him company. (Gen. 2:19) God answered the question for us. There was no “helper fit for him.” (Gen. 2:18) He was alone because God was too far above him and the animals too far beneath him to be his counterpart.

To solve this problem God made woman for Adam and the two became “one flesh”. (Gen. 2:22-24) Adam and Eve were the first family, with the first children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. (Gen. 5) From this beginning we have the seven billion plus or minus people living today.

Just how important is the family? It is the most critical link we have with people because of how deeply it influences and affects us. (Deut. 6:7-9) We look out for and protect one another. When life gets us down our family is there to support and encourage us. Our earliest training and education come from family. (Eph. 6:4) It is the family who does more to influence who we become than anyone else.

God-fearing husbands and wives offer each other wonderfulpeace and comfort. They do this by facing the ups and downs of life together. Most of all they put God and His Word first in their lives. (Eph. 5:22-33) When problems and questions about life come up they turn to the Bible for help.

Christian parents focus on raising their children to love and obey God. (2 Tim. 3:14-15) That means they refuse to compromise Bible teaching to please their children’s whims. Dad and mom also know kids do better when they have a strong and consistent bond with their parents. They feel more loved, secure, and happy when they know dad and mom are there for them.

Godly families also make good citizens and employees or employers. (Rom. 13:1-5 & Eph. 6:5-9) They are the neighbors people want to live next to and the volunteers who get the job done. This is the family God wanted when He made Adam and Eve in the beginning.

While a good earthly family is important, there is another family even more critical to us. I am talking about the family of God. Christians are children of God the Father (Rom. 8:15), Jesus is their brother (Heb. 2:11), and we are brothers and sisters in Christ. (Col. 1:2) Physical families can and do let their members down, but God will never fail His children. Some parents lead their children astray and teach them evil rather than good. The Father will never mislead His children or guide them to sin. (Matt. 7:11) Parents may put themselves before their kids, but God always puts His children first. Even if you had God fearing parents, they were not perfect guides. God is a perfect guide because all that He does and says is right. (James 1:17-18)

We have all lost members of our physical family to death. How many of us ever met our great-great-grandparents? Most of us have lost close family members, people we loved deeply and whose passing away left a void in our lives. In whatever way I am kin to someone in this life, it ends at death. (Mark 12:25) However, our brothers and sisters in Christ are not only with us today, but will be with us in heaven. (Col. 1:11-14)
“It is not good to be alone” is true for Christians just as it was for Adam. God gave Adam someone who was “fit for him” and He has given us a Christian family in the local church. We face spiritual obstacles and go through peaks and valleys trying to serve God. Our family, people with like goals and troubles, help us remain strong. (1 Thess. 5:14) Whether we like it or not, we are responsible to aid one another. (2 John 8) That is what faithful Christians or family members do, and it is what God expects from them.

This is what godly members do. Even though we may not “have the time”, we make the time to care about one another. (James 1:27) That means we check on each other and we lend a hand if needed. If a brother or sister is stumbling we are there to steady them. (2 Tim. 2:24-26) It also means we forgive one another, and we seek forgiveness when needed. (Matt. 18:21-35 & Matt. 5:23-25) Christians help each other learn and grow spiritually. (Eph. 4:11-16)

What do we think about those who abandon their earthly family? It happens all too often, and when it does, most of us view such people with contempt. How do you think God looks at those who abandon their spiritual family? He is not happy when we regularly miss services or if we are not there for one another. Think about it this way; only faithful family members will be in heaven. (Rev. 2:10) God blessed me with a great earthly family, but I have been even more blessed with an eternal family.

Terry Starling