In his book Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Charles Swindoll writes about the courtship and marriage of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. Although he was a world renowned aviator, Charles Lindbergh was not content to have his wife stand in his shadow. He encouraged Anne to develop her own gifts and abilities. As a result Anne Morrow Lindbergh became one of America's most popular authors.

According to Charles Swindoll, "Here was a husband's love that was strong enough to reassure, yet unthreatened enough to release. Tight enough to embrace, yet loose enough to enjoy. Magnetic enough to hold, yet magnanimous enough to allow for flight. Here was a husband's love with an absence of jealousy, as others applauded her accomplishments and admired her competence."1

It's refreshing to hear accounts of successful and satisfying marriages. It's encouraging to hear that some couples give energy and effort to continually build their relationship. It's great to hear about good and growing relationships between husbands and wives, especially given the popular claim that "marriage is the only war where you sleep with the enemy"!

What makes a marriage successful and satisfying? What makes for a good and growing relationship? While the union of Charles and Anne Lindbergh had something special about it -- something that enabled them to thrive in marriage for nearly half a century -- there was one couple who had a growing marriage for even longer. You might say that their's was a marriage "made in heaven." While no one knows their exact wedding anniversary, in the early chapters of Genesis we learn that this marriage lasted some 900 years.

Thankfully, through their story, God has given us insight into what makes for a successful and satisfying marriage. In the creation account of Genesis 2 we get a glimpse of life in the first family. In our Scripture we discover three truths about the marriage of Adam and Eve: First, they were created for each other. Second, they were different from each other. And third, they were given to each other.

In the year 1158, the medieval poet and professor Peter Lombard observed that, "Eve was not taken from the feet of Adam to be his slave, nor from his head to be his lord, but from his side to be his partner."2 Lombard grasped an important fact that's eluded many Christians from his day down through our own: in the creation account there is no evidence of superior/inferior or dominant/submissive relations between the first husband and wife. Instead there's evidence of equality and egalitarian relations. Adam and Eve shared a growing friendship. They had a strong partnership. They enjoyed companionship. They complemented one another in every way possible, because they were created for each other.

It's noteworthy that our text begins in the manner it does. To this point in the Genesis account, God has looked upon the universe in all of its perfection and pristine glory -- and God has declared it very good. Yet, here, the Lord's benediction becomes a malediction: God saw that it was not good for a man to be alone. Thus, we read of the Lord's intent: "I will make him a helper fit for him" (Genesis 2:18, RSV).