From Adversary to Ally

When Adam began his dominion work, he quickly discovered he did not have a helper suitable for him.

So the Lord made him one!

And as the great commentator Matthew Henry pointed out…

“The woman was not made out of Adam’s head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”

From this making of a helpmate, there are a couple of things to note:

First, it’s the norm for a man to have a wife as a helper.

This design allows both man and woman to leverage their gifts and maximize their kingdom impact.

At a time when marriages are being deferred, we ought to remember—it’s good for a man to find a wife!

Second, it is crucial for a man to see and care for his wife as a helper, not as an adversary.

Unfortunately, many men view their wives as opponents.

If any man feels this way, it’s important for him to figure out how he and his wife can work together in a common calling.

Having a shared vision and commitment is all the more important in a day when marriages and families are under heavy stress, as they are today.

In short...

God’s pattern from the beginning is that a man will achieve the greatest dominion in his life when it’s lived in partnership with a godly wife.