Having a significant person in your life that you can lean on is a beautiful blessing. God even says so in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12(NLT). This passage states, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Our Heavenly Father makes the case for a partnership of unity very plain. We see this even in His own being, because He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are One, and their Oneness demonstrates the unity we can have in Christ when companionship is centered on the love of God.
When it comes to companionship that lead to marriage, the goal is to help each other, build one another up, and ultimately become one in the eyes of our Lord. Genesis 2:18 (NLT) says, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” This informs us that one of the most important aspects of two people coming together is being a blessing to one another. God demonstrated this for us from the very beginning, with Adam and Eve. He created Adam first, and then made Eve by taking a rib from Adam’s body. From one man, Adam, God made another person, Eve. It was God’s design and Will for it to be this way. So, although they would have separate bodies and different functions, Adam and Eve would always be one. Heavenly Father wanted us to be clear about this.
Jesus Christ taught us by example that giving is a huge part of having a thriving and bountiful life. In truth, he said it is more blessed to give than to receive. By this, we should be confident that giving or sowing into the lives of others creates a cycle of giving that deepens a partnership. In Luke 6:38(NLT), Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” The wisdom that Jesus Christ is teaching in this verse assures us that when we sow into someone in a way that pleases Heavenly Father, we plant a seed of His goodness in that person’s life. This seed then yields a blessing that is returned to us. Its not too difficult to see how the love and unity in a relationship grows when we are committed to love through Jesus Christ. It becomes a cycle of giving and receiving that never ends but deepens and yields endless rewards.
Companionship was created by God as a way of blessing His children. It is not meant to foster or lead us into sin. It’s meant to be a way we can really demonstrate the love of Christ to someone that is close to us. When we take companionship out of the realm of Godliness, it can be used by the adversary against us. It’s one of the reasons we see so much heartbreak and breakups. We must be clear that this isn’t what God wants. He wants us to have stable relationships where we honor Christ and honor one another.
Proverbs 27:9(NLT) says “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” This sweetness is what the disciples experienced from Jesus Christ. Even when some of them turned their backs on him, he was faithful to them always, and he never stopped pouring goodness into their lives.
The comradery that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, shared with his disciples paints an exquisite portrait of the purpose and unity of companionship. He didn’t withhold any part of his love from them but shared himself freely. Like us, his disciples were imperfect. They could be problematic, non-committal, judgmental, and petty at times, but he was never punitive, nor did he withdraw from them. He taught them the Word of God by example and truth, and he walked perfectly before them. He had something of infinite and immeasurable value to share with the disciples, and his love for all people was relentless. Sharing God’s love was his mission, and it is our mission as well.
Sometimes, we place companionship with men in a category that doesn’t line up with a Godly friendship that should come first. Instead, we dive in with our hearts by putting romance at the top and Godliness at the bottom. This can lead to confusion, hurt feelings, and most importantly, it injures our relationship with God. Faith in Him will lead us to honoring the individual that we like and making sure that this individual honors us. Having faith in Heavenly Father will put the fruit of the Spirit on blast, and it also puts Jesus Christ at the head of our relationships where he should always be. We shouldn’t deny ourselves the joy of Godly companionship, but we must be sure to trust God and remain close to Him. When this is our heart and practice, companionship with the right person will be the blessing God intends it to be.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Blessing of Companionship”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.