By Brother Mike Larsen
28 May 2006
Adult Education Hour
Genesis 1:28
§ Helpful Companionship
Gen. 2: 4b – 9 & 15 - 17 Adam was formed from the dust of the ground and placed in the Garden God had made to “Dress it and keep it”. Adam was given a responsibility and that was to WORK. To maintain the garden. Gentlemen, do you think Adam complained about the work? We see here that man needed to work! Men you are made to work. That’s why men often have their identity wrapped into their work. One of the first things men say to each other when they meet is, “So, what do you do”? That is also why you feel the way you do when at times you have to say, “I am out of work right now.” It just doesn’t seem right and it doesn’t feel right. Men were made to work and that pleases God. Work is a good healthy thing for you so praise God we can work!
Look at Gen 1:28 God also told them both to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish or fill the Earth, and Subdue the Earth. Subdue is the word “kabash”. Have you ever heard the saying; “He put the kabash on that”? If a person can put the kabash on something that means he has the power and authority to do so! Kabash means to tread down; conquer; force; bring into bondage; bring into subjection. Man is to subdue the Earth. Bring it into subjection under their authority. Control it. Manage it. They were also told to have Dominion over all the animals. Dominion is to rule, prevail against, reign, and overtake. People who push the concept of animal rights equal to man are either ignorant of the scriptures or are anti God in their philosophy.
So man is responsible to manage and have the authority over the Earth and to have dominion or rule over the animals. That is a very big responsibility you have. That is still our responsibility today along with many other responsibilities! It is very obvious that man cannot do this alone.
Look at Gen 2:18. God has provided exactly what is needed for man to fulfill the huge responsibility of managing life on this earth. Helpful companionship! God made a Help Meet for Adam. Ultimately God holds the man responsible for how the Earth is managed but in His plan he knew man could not do it alone. He needs his woman as his helpmeet.
Man is oriented to the task or work and woman is oriented to the man as the helper and teammate. It has been said that behind every good man is a good woman. It is true in my life. I would not be where I am without my wife supporting me. She is my cheerleader, my best friend, and my encourager. She is also my responsibility! I have great comfort knowing that while I am out “slaying the dragons” and subduing my small portion of the Earth, she is Keeping base camp stable and secure. We both understand the mission, we both understand our role in the achievement of the mission, and we both perform our duty to the Glory of God. What would happen if the enemy was having success ravaging the home front? I would have to leave the battle and return to shore up the home front. Any advances or successes I had made would be lost to have to do over again. Maybe if you are not making progress it’s because rowing your boat in different directions. Are you both trying to accomplish your own mission? Maybe your both out trying to slay dragons and nobody is minding the Home front. You better shore up the home front and together develop a new plan. And while you develop the new plan keep I Cor. 11:8 –12 in the front of your mind. Marriage is about mutual dependence on each other and ultimately dependence upon God but God holds the man responsible and accountable to lead the family.
§ Godly Offspring
Man cannot reproduce alone; marriage is God’s sanctioned context for human reproduction (Gen. 1:28)
Family provides the context for children to be taught about the Lord.
Mal. 2:15 The men at this time were divorcing their wives just for a change. They were dealing treacherously with them. They also were marrying women who served idols. “Take heed to your spirit means to have the same commitment to marriage that God has to the promises He makes. Guard yourself in your Spirit that you do not deal treacherously with your wife. The Residue is a remnant. Look he is saying don’t deal badly with your wife because you are to bring up a Godly seed or children.
Josh. 4:4-8 Joshua understood that teaching the next generation is required. That is where my parent’s generation failed. It became common lazy practice to say, “ I will let my kids decide if they want to serve God or not” How foolish! You must teach them the precepts of God so they have a choice between God’s way and the world. Without that teaching they have no choice to make. Don’t let Satan dupe you into that foolish position.
Proverbs 22:6 You have to train them up! You train your children the precepts of God. That is your responsibility. It is their responsibility whether or not they serve God with their life after they leave home but it is your responsibility to teach them the good and truthful way. My parents did teach me the commands of God. I did not get saved until I was 17 years old but I was in Sunday School and church my entire childhood. The instruction was there. As a lost teenager I knew I was not doing right. God used that to convict me the day he saved me. You fulfill your responsibility and train up your children!
Some say this current generation of young people is in pretty bad shape and it is true. The problem is not the kids however. The problem is bad parents. Parents cannot be self centered and lazy in their responsibility. Of course much of this is because they are lost in their sin and need the savior. The book of proverbs is where you need to spend time to train up your children properly.
§ Sexual Protection
The 3rd earthly purpose for marriage we will discuss is to protect against the dangers of sexual sin. Marital relationship, through companionship and Godly sexual activity, provides that protection.
I Cor. 7:1-5 It is important that a married couple have a sex life. God made people with sexual desires and needs. On day 6 God said it was very good and that included the sexuality of Adam and Ishshah. In fact it is said that Adam took one look at Eve and said, “Wooaahh Man!! I think he noticed don’t you? Obviously in the confines of marriage Sex is Holy and wonderful. But outside marriage it is fornication and a misuse of a beautiful thing God made. The world has destroyed all resemblance of normalcy in this area. A whole generation is being inundated with the wrong message about sex and it’s origin and purpose. The consequences are massive and too many to state them all.
Prov 7:18 – 27 Strong warning to avoid fornication. Strong statements about the consequences. The world today does not tell you the consequences, just promotes sexual sin with a vengeance. If Satan can ruin families he can make them ineffective for God.
Prov Chapter 5
§ Warning! Take Heed! Hear the instruction!
o She will deceive you and it will appear good but it is a lie
§ Consequences are spelled out.
o You will dishonor yourself
o You will have wasted your life
o You will rip your family apart and your wealth will be in the house of a stranger
o You will mourn at the end realizing that the pleasure of sin truly only lasts for a season but afterwards is disaster.
§ Application. What you should do.
o Focus on the wife God has given you
o Realize the sweetness of having your own wife always there for you and only find satisfaction in her. Let her breasts satisfy you, keep the relationship alive so you are completely ravished by her and her only.
o You only give satisfaction to your wife. Do not give yourself to any other.
o Remember that God sees all
1 Cor 6:15-20 Sexual sin is serious business that affects every area of your life negatively and destroys our society. God has ordained Marriage as the prevention and solution to that problem