Man’s Need of Companionship

“The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. This is to be our study. Christ was a real man; He gave proof of His humility in becoming a man. Yet He was God in the flesh. When we approach this subject, we would do well to heed the words spoken by Christ to Moses at the burning bush, “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place where on thou standest is holy ground.” We should come to this study with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the incarnation of Christ is a fruitful field, which will repay the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth.” The Youth’s Instructor, Oct. 13, 1898. {7ABC 443.1}

This is to be our study:

To be a real man.

What is a real man?

He must be born of a woman.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Gal 4:4

He must have a lineage of ancestors

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Rom. 1:1-4

“For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.” Heb. 2:16

He must have a human body

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb. 2:14

He must have a human mind

“A human body and a human mind were His.” 3SM 129.4

If He has a human body and a human mind, then He must have needs.

The life of the flesh needs to be sustained with water to drink, food to eat, clothing to protect and rest when weary.

“Jesus was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of man; yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was God in the flesh.” DA 311.4

And He must need companionship.

Does man need companionship? Is companionship a genuine need of man?

The world is seeking companionship. They are eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, seeking a companion. Is it natural for man to seek a companion, or is it a perversion of man’s nature that has come about as a result of the fall? Do you yourself feel that you need a companion? Do you feel a need for love, for sympathy, for someone to brighten and sweeten your life?

Is it RIGHT to want a companion?

You can say “yes”, because it’s not a selfish thing to want a companion. “The desire for love and sympathy is implanted in the heart by God Himself.” AA 491

After the creation Adam was instructed to name the animals. It was noticed that they were in pairs while Adam was alone. There was not a companion for him and it awakened a NEED within him. This need was implanted by God Himself, and so what did God do? “And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” Genesis 2:18, 21- 23

“After the creation of Adam every living creature was brought before him to receive its name; he saw that to each had been given a companion, but among them ‘there was not found an help meet for him.’ Among all the creatures that God had made on the earth, there was not one equal to man. And God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.’ Man was not made to dwell in solitude; he was to be a social being. Without companionship the beautiful scenes and delightful employments of Eden would have failed to yield perfect happiness. Even communion with angels could not have satisfied his desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of the same nature to love and to be loved.” PP 46

Man was made to be a social being. Man needs companionship from those of the same nature to love and be loved.

Did Jesus Christ have a need for companionship?

Where did Jesus find rest? In the company of fellow human beings. “Jesus had often found the rest that His weary human nature required at the house of Lazarus, in Bethany.” DG 57.2

Examine the transfiguration…

“But before the crown must come the cross. Not the inauguration of Christ as king, but the decease to be accomplished at Jerusalem, is the subject of their conference with Jesus. Bearing the weakness of humanity, and burdened with its sorrow and sin, Jesus walked alone in the midst of men. As the darkness of the coming trial pressed upon Him, He was in loneliness of spirit, in a world that knew Him not. Even His loved disciples, absorbed in their own doubt and sorrow and ambitious hopes, had not comprehended the mystery of His mission. He had dwelt amid the love and fellowship of heaven; but in the world that He had created, He was in solitude. Now heaven had sent its messengers to Jesus; not angels, but men who had endured suffering and sorrow, and who could sympathize with the Saviour in the trial of His earthly life. Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ. They had shared His longing for the salvation of men. Moses had pleaded for Israel: ‘Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.’ Ex. 32:32. Elijah had known loneliness of spirit, as for three years and a half of famine he had borne the burden of the nation’s hatred and its woe. Alone he had stood for God upon Mount Carmel. Alone he had fled to the desert in anguish and despair. These men, chosen above every angel around the throne, had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering, and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven. The hope of the world, the salvation of every human being, was the burden of their interview.” DA 422.2

And His experience in Gethsemane…

“The human heart longs for sympathy in suffering. This longing Christ felt to the very depths of His being. In the supreme agony of His soul He came to His disciples with a yearning desire to hear some words of comfort from those whom He had so often blessed and comforted, and shielded in sorrow and distress. The One who had always had words of sympathy for them was now suffering superhuman agony, and He longed to know that they were praying for Him and for themselves. How dark seemed the malignity of sin! Terrible was the temptation to let the human race bear the consequences of its own guilt, while He stood innocent before God. If He could only know that His disciples understood and appreciated this, He would be strengthened.” DA 687

Jesus Christ needed sympathy in His suffering. He NEEDED to hear words of comfort…

Is that not a REAL man?

But did He receive that which He so desperately desired? It is written that He trod the winepress alone and of the people there was none with Him.

Are you lonely?

Say, are you LONELY? Jesus was lonely too. Do you know how He felt?

Do you know how Adam felt in the Garden of Eden when it was found that there was not an help meet for him? Do you know that sense of need of a companion? Are you familiar with that awakening within your heart when you see those around you “pairing up”? Have you asked the question: Where’s mine?

Hear the words of Jesus through the prophet: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” Psalm 22:1,2

Are you lonely?

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:17,18

Take comfort, brethren, sisters, friends, you never need be alone again.

I have heard it once said, and these words are true: You can be alone in a crowd. You can be alone in a marriage. And you can even be alone in the church. But NEVER AGAIN if you will study with me the humanity of Jesus Christ, and make it your own. You will indeed find that it is a fruitful field, which will repay the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth.

So, the humanity of Jesus Christ, He needed a companion. And so you need one too, just as much as you need food, water, clothing and shelter. “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Matthew 6;25, 26.

God will provide.

“In the arrangements for the education of the chosen people it is made manifest that a life centered in God is a life of completeness. Every want He has implanted He provides to satisfy; every faculty imparted He seeks to develop.” AH 455.1

Even when the earth, languishing under the curse of sin and ready to take its last breath and expire, God will still provide the necessities of His children.

“He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence [shall be] the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure.” Isaiah 33:15,16

Even in the time of trouble, those who make God their confidence will have their needs satisfied. And so it is that God will supply all our needs.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

God will supply all our needs. How?

All man’s needs will be supplied BY Jesus Christ since He is the creator of all. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3,

Since all things that man needs have been provided BY Jesus Christ, so it is that our need for companionship is also supplied BY Jesus Christ.

“Seek to make God your father, and you will never want a friend.” 2T 314.1

NEVER ALONE!

Let us consider this. Man needs companionship. That companion must be of the same nature to love and be loved. Even the communion of angels cannot supply that need. But God shall supply all our needs BY Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was a real man. He partook of our humanity. He needed what we need. He needed companionship. He found rest in the home of Lazarus – those of the same nature that He could love and that could love Him.

Now, read very carefully, as we dig deep for hidden treasure. To begin with, the humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. And so seek to make God your Father. Let us connect the two.

“In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son.” John 3:16. He gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Him to the fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain His human nature. This is the pledge that God will fulfill His word. ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder.’ God has adopted human nature in the person of His Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven. It is the ‘Son of man’ who shares the throne of the universe. It is the ‘Son of man’ whose name shall be called, ‘Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ Isa. 9:6. The I AM is the Daysman between God and humanity, laying His hand upon both. He who is ‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,’ is not ashamed to call us brethren. Heb. 7:26; 2:11. In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are bound together. Christ glorified is our brother. Heaven is enshrined in humanity, and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love.” DA 25.3

“The church is the property of God, and God constantly remembers her as she stands in the world, subject to the temptations of Satan. Christ has never forgotten the days of His humiliation. In passing from the scenes of His humiliation, Jesus has lost none of His humanity. He has the same tender, pitying love, and is ever touched with human woe. He ever bears in mind that He was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. He forgets not His representative people who are striving to uphold His downtrodden law. He knows that the world that hated Him, hates them. Although Jesus Christ has passed into the heavens, there is still a living chain binding His believing ones to His own heart of infinite love. The most lowly and weak are bound by a chain of sympathy closely to His heart. He never forgets that He is our representative, that He bears our nature.” HP 284.3

Are you lonely? Never again! Here is Jesus: He has lost none of His humanity.

There is Jesus Christ – in heaven, pleading for you, and He has lost none of His humanity! Jesus Christ still has the same need for companionship as He had when he walked the earth. He needs those of the same nature to love and to be loved.

“Without companionship the beautiful scenes and delightful employments of Eden would have failed to yield perfect happiness. Even communion with angels could not have satisfied his desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of the same nature to love and to be loved.” PP 45

Can you feel His need for companionship? Jesus needs YOUR companionship.

Do you desire a soul-mate? A companion who will give you undivided attention? We can ask, Why is the world eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage? Because they are seeking that one person that will “connect” with them. That one perfect match. That “soul-mate.” They are marrying and giving in marriage because they think they have it, and then find they don’t. Then they think they have it, and then find they don’t. They waste all their time and all their money and they go through such heartache as one relationship fails after another. They don’t look to see that that one need is provided BY Jesus Christ.

I pause here: Is there anything wrong with marriage? It is written in the last days, the fewer marriages contracted the better. But it is also written in 1 Corinthians 7: “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.”

“And in [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” Proverbs 18:22

But if you don’t obtain a wife, or a husband, does it mean that the Lord is not favourable toward you?

And so, as the Lord has called, so should you walk.

The fact is: Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of heaven. And all these things shall be added unto you. If God sees fit not to give you a husband, then it’s His priority, not yours. He knows what He’s doing. But He doesn’t want you to be alone. And so, God so loved you, that He gave His only begotten Son, to partake with you your humanity, your need for companionship, so that when you awaken to the sense “I want a companion” there is Jesus: “I want one too.” And Jesus can be closer to you than any earthly friend.

Did the disciples sorrow after Jesus left?

Nay. They rejoiced!

They had had Him walk with them in person for three years, but they did not sorrow for the loss of His presence when He left.

Why not? Jesus promised, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter.” John 14:16-18, 21

Soul-mate? Jesus is closer than any earthly friend, but still having the human sympathies. Still knowing how your feel. He is Human, but in your heart. Brothers, sisters, friends. What a friend we have in Jesus. Do you believe it? Will you make it your own?

How real to you is Jesus?

A brother once shared that he will be lying there on his bed, crying, and it is His shoulder he is crying on.

How real to you is Jesus? Have you made Jesus your Personal Saviour?

“The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.” SC 100

Then there is undivided attention! Oh how we love undivided attention. There is just Jesus and you. Make it your own. When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you will be “yoked” up to Him. You will be united with Him.

Eve was united with Adam:
“And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:23, 24 They were one flesh. Bone of bone. Flesh of flesh.

“Divine culture brings perfection. If in connection with God the work is carried forward, the human agent, through Christ, will day by day gain victory and honor in the battle. Through the grace given he will overcome, and will be placed on vantage ground. In his relation to Christ he will be bone of His bone, flesh of His flesh, one with Christ in a peculiar relationship, because Christ took the humanity of man.” 7BC 926.5 SB Hebrews p 1325 A Divine Culture for Christians

“God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided ‘an help meet for him’–a helper corresponding to him–one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation.” PP 46.2

They will be bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh. “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.” Ephesians 5:28-30

Jesus will not hate you, but He will nourish and cherish. “For thy Maker [is] thine husband; the LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Isaiah 54:5

Brother, sisters, friends. Never alone. When you see others around you “pairing up”, as did Adam, don’t despair. My God shall supply ALL your needs, BY Jesus Christ.

“Therefore if you have become estranged from your husband Jesus Christ, Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:” Jeremiah 3:14

There is so much to contemplate. But please, make it your own. Dig deep as for hidden treasure.

“There are many who err, and who feel their shame and folly. They look upon their mistakes and errors until they are driven almost to desperation. These souls we are not to neglect. When one has to swim against the stream, there is all the force of the current driving him back. Let a helping hand be held out to him, as was the Elder Brother’s to the sinking Peter. Speak to him hopeful words, words that inspire him with courage. Tell him of an almighty hand that will hold him up, of an infinite humanity in Christ that pities him. It is not enough for him to believe in law and force, things that have no pity, and never hear the call for help. He needs to clasp a hand that is warm, to trust in a heart full of tenderness. Keep his mind stayed on the thought of the divine Helper ever beside him, ever looking upon him with pitying love. Bid him think of a Father’s heart that ever grieves over sin, of a Father’s hand stretched out still, of a Father’s voice saying, ‘Come unto me,… and I will give you rest.’” RH, January 19, 1911 par. 8

This is what I have tried to do, and I myself am incapable, but God has promised, that His grace shall be sufficient to the need. My God shall supply all my needs.

In conclusion:

God is drawing us to Him. He desires to enter into a covenant, marriage relationship with us. And just as a man seeking to marry a woman will woo her unto him, so, God is wooing us unto Him.

“When Israel [was] a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. [As] they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.” Hosea 11:1-5

Don’t resist the drawing.

You know the story of the woman of Laodicea?

“I am come into my garden, my sister, [my] spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. I sleep, but my heart waketh: [it is] the voice of my beloved that knocketh, [saying], Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, [and] my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? My beloved put in his hand by the hole [of the door], and my bowels were moved for him. I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped [with] myrrh, and my fingers [with] sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, [and] was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.” Song of Solomon 5:1-7

He is knocking on your heart’s door. Won’t you let Him in? He is drawing you to Him. He needs your companionship. He needs your love, your sympathy. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Will your resist His drawing?

“Though He was a Jew, Jesus mingled freely with the Samaritans… He slept with them under their roofs, ate with them at their tables–partaking of the food prepared and served by their hands– taught in their streets and treated them with the utmost kindness and courtesy. And while He drew their hearts to Him by the tie of human sympathy, His divine grace brought to them the salvation which the Jews rejected.” ML 188.6

It is my prayer. Amen

Camron Schofield, Australia