Today's Thoughts...

Thinking about Adam & Eve, man & woman, value & purpose...

It is widely known that man puts his value, finds his purpose, and seeks his identity in his work, his career, his accomplishments of that nature... the result of the work he does with his hands.

It is also widely known that woman puts her value, finds her purpose, and seeks her identity in her relationships, her close friends, the cultivating of close intimate friendships and relationships.

I've always heard that in various places, and it's always made sense. But I put something together yesterday...

Man was created from the earth: "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7).
But woman was created from the man: "So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. " (Genesis 2:21-22)

It finally occurred to me that there is a connection between how God created man and woman, and what they (and we) find value in. Man was created of the dust of the earth, and now he finds purpose and identity in his work, in the results of the work he performs with his hands... he was birthed from the earth and finds his purpose in working the earth...
Woman is then taken out of man... an instant relationship is formed in her very creation... and now she finds HER worth and purpose in the relationships she holds with others, with friends and family and especially her husband.

Of course, when both Adam & Eve were created, they were as helpmates and companions... much as they were created to be for God as well. But then enter sin, the relationship is nearly severed. When they were created, all of what they needed was in God... and they found it there. But after they sinned and went against what He had told them... well, then man begins to find his WORTH and PURPOSE and HAPPINESS and IDENTITY... in his work, in the results of what he does with the land that he was birthed from. And woman then begins to find her WORTH and PURPOSE and HAPPINESS and IDENTITY... in her relationship with man, with friend, with family, with everyone.... but not God.

So I see that although I value relationships and often find my identity in them (and yes, it's true, no point in lying - I instinctively do this)... I'm SUPPOSED to find all of that, to find EVERYTHING... in my Creator God.
Although man values his work and finds his identity in accomplishments... he SHOULD also seek his identity in his Creator God.

But it's no wonder that men can feel low and lack good self esteem when their work doesn't meet with praise and thanks (especially from his wife, but that's another blog)... and it's no wonder that women lack self confidence and satisfaction when their relationships aren't going well.

And so Adam and Eve started the chain reaction of running to everything but God, to looking to everything but God... to find self worth and contentment.
At what point do we realize that all of the things we seek from everyTHING and everyONE else can be found in God? And furthermore... perhaps understanding a little more about our life-mates especially can help us to help them. How? For goodness sakes, give your man thanks and praise and gratitude for his hard work... and maybe he'll begin to put more effort and value into your relationship. Give your woman true intimacy, share with her, love her... and maybe she will begin to value your efforts as the provider...

Just some thoughts...