Man Was Designed For Relationships

Genesis describes how God spoke creation into existence. He formed the structure and order of the earth and its seasons, and He created all animate creatures and inanimate objects. This is when and where we discover and understand the how and why of man’s meaningful existence, purpose, and identity.

In the beginning, God created man (the whole of humanity) in His image; according to His likeness, male and female He created them. This is an explicit reference to the Trinity, the triune God who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

The “Us/Our” description of God’s image (”Let Us make man in Our image“) is particular and important. An “I/me” outcome for man is not an accurate or complete reflection of an “Us/Our” image. God is not simply individual, but is complex and three-in-one. This is a profound mystery! The Triune God created and designed the whole of mankind to reflect His image, as man lives in dynamic relationships with others. Those relationships with others are greater than the sum of the individual persons.

When one is isolated from relationships with others for a prolonged period, a person struggles and suffers, but when we are engaged in healthy relationships with many others, our life is rich and more interesting.

Each person has a long list of relationships with others – parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, neighbors, your spouse, the guy that rides on the same train each day with you, the checkout girl at the grocery store, the neighbor boy who mows your lawn, and dozens of others! Some relationships comprise just a moment or two each day, or each week, but they are a part of who you are.

The relationship we have with others provides a canvas upon which our expression of self is on display and experienced. We discover, or unveil, a more complete picture of ourselves when we live in active relationships with others. That picture may encourage or disappoint us, but it is real! Relationships bring flavor and texture to our thoughts as we put them into words and share them out loud with others.

This is the complexity and mystery of being made in the image of God, and explains why we need and desire meaningful and healthy relationships with others. And this is also why we often act dysfunctionally when we feel isolated from others.

When we understand how our Creator designed us, it  brings clarity to the value of relationships in our lives. It helps to make sense of our struggles and joys in those relationships, and guides us in setting expectations for relationships.