‘Made for People,’ by Justin Whitmel Earley
Reflection and thoughts on a tiny part of the book
How do humans connect and are friends necessary? That’s the central theme in Justin Whitmel Earley’s book Made for People. Earley makes a few bold assertions, but my most thought-provoking passages (so far! I’m not finished with the book) are…
"You are made for people in such a way that you will be lonely if it is just 'you and God.'"
He continues,
"It is crucial to see that our capacity to be lonely with God is not a sign of God’s insufficiency or lack. It is a sign of his unfathomable generosity: God designed us to need people. I cannot experience God the way I was made to until I experience him alongside others."
He concludes,
"In other words, you need friends to be who God made you to be. Friends are the anatomy of your soul. They are at the core of your longings."
I’m a Christ follower and thus see things, at least in-part (I’m getting better), through that lens. It didn’t occur to me when I first read those statements that this isn’t just about Christ followers. But, as I’ve spent time writing this post the last 2 weeks, it’s occurred to me some of the most friendly, and friend-seeking, people I know are not Christ followers. In that light, that’s more evidence we’re all made in the image of God. Right?
This challenges a common Christian perspective I’ve had that God alone is sufficient to meet every emotional and relational need. And, it clarifies that my loneliness is not a sign of God's insufficiency, but rather a testament to His unfathomable generosity—
God designed me to need people.
In Genesis 2:18, God declares, "It is not good that the man should be alone." This illustrates that God, despite being in perfect relationship within the Trinity, still saw the need for human relationships. Earley builds on this by stating that my capacity to experience loneliness is not a flaw in God’s design but a manifestation of His intention that we live in community. It is a reflection of His generous nature, desiring that I find fulfillment through both divine and human connections.
This design is not just an optional aspect of my existence; it is integral to who I am. Earley argues that a deep relationship with God does not negate my need for human companionship. The notions that "iron sharpens iron…" (Proverbs 27:17) and “two are better than one….” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) underscores the idea that friendships are not merely beneficial but essential for fulfilling my God-given potential.
Another almost profound claim Earley makes is that my need for friends is an expression of God’s generosity.
That statement challenges the idea that spiritual maturity can be attained in isolation.
Earley reframes loneliness not as a failure of spiritual discipline but as a call to deepen human relationships. Rather than viewing solitude as a spiritual virtue, he encourages believers to recognize that part of experiencing God fully comes through living life alongside others.
Justin Whitmel Earley’s insights challenges me to rethink my approach to spirituality by recognizing the essential role of friendships. My longing for human connection is not a spiritual flaw but a reflection of God’s intentional design. By embracing community and investing in friendships, I not only grow personally but also reflect the generous, relational nature of God - through both divine connection and the grace of human companionship.
To that end,
Danny