The Bible teaches us that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. This is true in a personal sense for each one of us and it is also true for mankind in general. God does not keep His plan and purpose a secret. He’s made it known in His Word, the Bible. When it comes to sex and marriage, God’s purpose are taught repeatedly in the Bible. There are at least five of them: Companionship, procreation, unity, pleasure, and the stabilization of society. One clear observation from the Biblical purposes of marriage is that procreation is not the only purpose of sex. Actually, it’s mentioned only after companionship and unity is expressed in the creation account of the man and woman. The second purpose for marriage is companionship. According to Gen 2:18, marriage is God’s idea, and God raised the idea because he saw that man was alone. Nothing in the verse mentions the purpose of marriage or sex as procreation. Everything points to God in his goodness giving man a companion suitable to his needs.

The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology defines marriage this way: “An intimate and complementing union between a man and a woman in which the two become one physically, in the whole of life. The purpose of marriage is to reflect the relationship of the Godhead and to serve him. Although the fall has marred the divine purpose and function of marriage, this definition reflects the God-ordained ideal for marriage from the beginning.”

In Chapter 4 of Ecclesiastes three reasons companionship is important in life. These verses also express the tragedy of loneliness alongside of the joys of companionship. First of all, verse 10 makes it clear that there is help and support in biblical companionship. It says that with companions you have someone to help you when you fall. Then it adds, “But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” The second benefit is comfort and warmth as seen in verse 11. It says, “…if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?” Finally, verse 12 says there is protection and strength in union with another: “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Criswell writes, “In the Garden of Eden the creation of man was incomplete and unfinished until God presented to him for fellowship the helper corresponding to him (Gen. 2:18–24).”