In The Master's Service

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THE HELP MEET

Elder Clem E. Cook

Genesis 2:18 tells us that God said it was not good that a man should be alone; so He made him a help meet for him. The word meet defines that which is suitable, fit, proper: to come in contact of qualities, etc., uniting in the same person, etc. (Ref: The Oxford Dictionary on Universal Principles, dated 1578.) "And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Therefore shall man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

The man, Adam, was made flesh and bone; therefore the woman became bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh: theerefore this relationship of man and wife (woman) was a fleshly relationship. Being one flesh they were bonded by that relationship; and the strength of that bond is seen in the fall.

The word "wife" defines a woman in her relationship to her husband, as housewife: a woman who runs the home and takes care of domestic affairs (vt.); To manage with economy and skill. Proverbs 12:4 states that a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is rottenness in his bones. And 14:1 states, every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

As we study this relationship, much is to be found about the importance of the strength being placed upon the woman; that strength being of a physical nature, of virtue, prudence, and meekness; having a knowledge of love, goodness, right action and thinking in execution of that knowledge. Virtue = conformity of life and conduct with the principles of morality; voluntary observation of recognized moral laws or standards of right conduct.

Thus it is written: "House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD." And Jesus said, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." If the relationship of man and wife be from God then it will be one that brings much strength unto the husband. "Who so findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need to spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." See Proverbs 31:11-12 and 23. Continue to read the teaching about that gift of a help meet that is written in Proverbs 31; how she is worthy of the fruit of her hands, and how her works praise her. Yes, she should be rendered that which she is due!

Therefore we find the teaching in I Corinthians 7:3 saying,"Let the husband rend unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband." And in Ephesians 5:23, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and gave himself for it. This type of love, one for the other, is the same type as that love shown forth from God and His Son Christ Jesus. Thus Paul writes in I Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ: and the head of the woman is man; and the head of Christ is God." This teaching of submission is very clear in that they should present themselves unto God as one body in Christ. Therefore in 11:12 it was written: "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman: but all things of God." Through this oneness relationship of husband and wife there is honor unto their Lord, even unto the salvation of their lives from the adversary Satan. See I Peter 3:1-7.