It is Not Good For The Man to Be Alone 2: The Value of Man

In my last post, “It is Not Good For the Man to Be Alone,” I wrote about God’s goodness in providing man with domesticated animals. Dogs, cats, horses, and others serve us, but also provide companionship to us. Early in Genesis, the Lord said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) Animals provide one source of relationship that is critical to our development and well-being. I think especially of children and how important pets can be.

In this post I want to stress that relationship with animals is like icing on the cake of life. The main “cake” of our lives depends on relationship with God and with others.

The Bible is very clear that God wants to relate to you. As we seek him, we are promised that we will find him.

Scripture also stresses our need to love others and be in right relationship with them. As we seek others we find ourselves.

Relationship with God and with others are the core of our purpose on this planet. It’s not our career or our bank balance, although these affect our relationships.

It is disturbing in this modern age that some argue that animals are on the same level of worth as people. I remember reading about Paula Stibbe, the English woman in Austria who wanted to become legal guardian of a chimpanzee. She said: "He is a colourful character with lots of energy. The least we can do for him is give him ... a future in society."1 I am sure the chimp, is colorful – but a future in society? She has fought for the same rights for the chimp that a human child would have. USA Today reported, “Some legal analysts warn of a danger in giving apes equal legal status because an animal's rights could conflict or supersede a human's rights in future court rulings.”2

God’s Word is clear regarding this issue of value. “… what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.” (Ps 8:4-9) In God’s eyes a person is infinitely more valuable than a chimp. People are crowned with glory and honor by God.

Jesus said it very clearly. “You are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matt 10:31)

So relationship is God’s plan. Relationship with God and others is at the center of what is worthwhile in life.. Relationship to animals is just underlining this fact. Icing on the cake of life.

It is not good for the man to be alone.


1 - Kate Connolly, “Court to Rule if Chimp Has Human Rights,” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/apr/01/austria.animalwelfare (April 2007)

2 - Jeffrey Stinson, “Activists Pursue Basic Human Rights for Great Apes,” http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-07-15-chimp_N.htm (July 2008)