It Is Not Good That Man Should Be Alone
Keith W. Kress
God established this principle in the beginning when he made both male and female animals, but no mate for Adam. God stated in Genesis 2:18 that it was not good for man to be alone. Therefore, He made a companion for man, called woman, and brought them together as husband and wife to procreate and help one another.
God further emphasized this principle when He instructed the Israelites in Exodus 23:14-19 to come together three times each year for feast days. They came together in praising their God and in eating together.
Solomon emphasized the importance of togetherness in Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 when he taught that it was not good for one person to be alone. He said that two people can aid one another, provide warmth to each other, and defend one another – and even three are better.
Jesus, in recognizing that man should not be alone, chose twelve apostles, instead of just one, and sent them out by twos to teach (Mark 6:7). He also said that, in the case of problems among brethren, they should be handled by more than one person (Matthew 18:15-17).
Consider all the “together” and “one another” passages of Scripture we read in the New Testament. We are to be united together in our teaching and practice (1 Corinthians 1:10); we should assemble together (Hebrews 10:25); we are to serve one another (Galatians 5:13); we are instructed to forgive one another (Ephesians 4:3 2); we must encourage one another in love and good works (Hebrews 10:24); we should comfort and strengthen each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11); and, certainly, many passages teach that we should love one another (1 Peter 1:22).
Understanding the importance of this principle – that it is not good for us to be alone – we should desire the fellowship and encouragement of other Christians. Christianity is meant to be social, not keeping to ourselves. The members of the church, in Acts 2:44, had things in common and spent time together on a regular basis (Acts 2:46). Both Acts 2:46 and Jude 12 indicate that they ate meals together regularly. We are even told that those who become divisive in their words and actions should be excluded from this togetherness in hopes that they will miss it and return to the Lord in faithfulness (1 Corinthians 5:5, 9, 11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; Romans 16:17).
New Christians, especially, need the comfort, teaching, and encouragement they can receive from other Christians. The story of Lazarus in John 11:44 is often used to illustrate that new Christians should not be left alone, but should be helped out of their “grave clothes” as they come from a life in the world into a life for the Lord.
Above all, we should understand our need for the fellowship of the Lord (1 John 1:1-4). We will never feel so alone as when we try to live life without God. Elijah felt alone in the cave until he talked with God (1 Kings 19); Jonah felt alone in the ship and in the fish until he talked with God (Jonah 1-2); and Peter felt never so alone as when he denied the Lord (Matthew 26:75).
May we never forget that it is still not good for man to be alone. -130 Chapel Hill Rd., Zanesville, OH 43701.