Sermon # 5 - God's Design For The Family Series

We read in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (ESV)

The word of God teaches us to set our minds on things that are beneficial to us, for we realize that our thoughts lead to decisions which result in actions. Hence, if we desire that our actions are appropriate, it is essential that our thoughts are also aligned in the proper way. The first aspect that we have been meditating in this series, is to think about those things that are true.

We live in a day and age where the values that we held on to in years gone by, have now become questionable. Also there is much confusion about what is true, and what is not. The world is pushing us to a place where many things that God calls evil, are now being attested as good and acceptable. Therefore, it is only the unchanging word of God that can help us stand firm, and be established on what is really true and good.

The power invested in Adam

The one unit that has come under much attack, which is also deteriorating more than ever before, is the family. It is God Himself who ordained, and established the family. When God created all the animals, birds and creatures of the sea, He created them all as male and female. However, in the creation of human beings, God first created Adam, and assigned a work for him.

We read in Genesis 2:19, “Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature that was its name.” (ESV)

The work that God assigned to Adam was to name every beast of the field, and all the birds of the heavens, and interestingly the name that Adam gave was what each of them went by. In the process, Adam I think was able to understand the difference between himself, and all other created beings. He must have also realized that he was far superior to all of God’s creation. This special responsibility to name other creatures was unique only to man, no other created being has or ever will be able to name another creature as Adam did.

By naming these creatures, Adam also must have understood the authority that God had entrusted to him. Have you noticed how we have the power to name someone or something only when we have authority over them? As the beasts and birds came to him, Adam must have also comprehended the truth that irrespective of how huge these creatures were, they were all subject to his rule and authority.

Further to this we realize that God who created everything, could have easily named all of His creation to. Nonetheless, God entrusted this to Adam to help him understand the creative skill and ability that God had kindly bestowed on him. It is only human beings who are the crown of God’s creation, as they alone are made in the image and likeness of God. The way God entrusted to Adam, and taught Him things, helps us appreciate how much of love and confidence God has placed on us as human beings.

No one to complement Adam

We read in Genesis 2:20, “The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.” (ESV)

The important part of this naming ceremony was Adam’s awareness that none of these creatures whom he had named none of them would be a suitable companion to him. In the process Adam was also able to realize that he did need a person who would be a suitable companion to him.

These days we hear many parents complain that their son is quite irresponsible, and without discipline. They therefore assume that if they got him married, he would settle down and become a responsible young man. This is a wrong presumption, because marriage should be considered only when a young man and woman understand the need for such a relationship. It is only when there is this maturity in each of them as individuals will that the marriage work out to be a joyful union. Marriage is not a juvenile delinquent plan, to get someone who is off track back on track. When marriages are done this way, it ends up with numerous problems, and heaps miseries on both spouses, and their children as well.