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)

It Is Not Good For The Man To Be Alone

The other day, we passed a woman crossing her snowy yard followed by a cat. My wife commented, “There’s a cold kitty… bet he wants in.” Then she said, “A lot of cats live out in the snow I guess.” Immediately I thought of the small wildcats we have in Idaho. Literal “wild” cats who live outside. What made this “house” cat different? It was domesticated. It likes its snuggly blanket in the warm house.

Where do domesticated animals come from? How did we get them? Science traces their domesticity back thousands of years… dogs, cats, pigs, horses, and cows. Various scientific proofs say that through processes of evolution, and intentional breeding by man, our modern domestic dogs, cats, and other animals have come to be over vast stretches of time. Domestic dogs slowly came from grey wolves they say.

Driving on I thought, “God gave them to us for companionship.” That is one of the main purposes of domestic animals. They are companions. It is true that dogs perform vital functions in some cases, like sled dogs in the arctic. Pigs are raised for food. Horses can bear burdens, including us. But one of the greatest things about these creatures is that they are friends. Have you had a favorite pet?

God is a God of relationship. Out of love for man, he gave us some 4-legged friends. He’s concerned that we not be alone. So he gave us what we call “man’s best friend.” How cool is that?


Consider these verses regarding animals.

- God owns all the animals, He made them.
Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

- He watches over them, even as He does people.
Psa 36:6 O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

- We are to be concerned about the life of animals.
Pro 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast:

- Although God feeds and loves the animals, it is the person who trusts in God that is first priority for the Lord.
Psa 147:9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
Psa 147:10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
Psa 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

No, it's not good for us to be alone. Thank you God that you care about me.