by Barbara Latta
God created the beautiful world
and put Adam in a paradise. He told the man to tend the garden.
The Lord God planted
a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. (Genesis 2:8 NKJV)
Work was necessary even in this perfect place. But Adam’s assignment did not require toil and sweat. If there were no weeds to pull or hard ground to devour seeds, then what was the purpose of work?
For Adam, his function was a joy,
not forceful labor.
But when Adam and Eve sinned, a curse penetrated
the earth. Forever mankind would struggle
to entice the ground to produce food. The devil laughed every time the man faced
thorns, thistles, drought, destruction, and dust.
Yet God had a remedy. The promise
of the redeeming Seed.
And I will put
enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall
bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15)
Jesus redeemed us from the curse
that sin inflicts. The planet still carries the results of the fall, but when
we submit to Christ, our projects can transform into the happy place God wants them
to be. When we fulfill the mission He has called us to, our diligence is acknowledged,
our hearts are full, and we live satisfied.
When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy
and it will be well with you (Psalm 90:2).
This is what happened to King David. Instead of
going out to battle with his soldiers, he stayed at the palace, slept all day,
rose at night, and was tempted when he saw Bathsheba on the roof. He was not
supposed to be at home; his place was on the battlefield with his men. He was
bored and idle, and temptation took a toll on him.
It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to
battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel…Then it
happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of
the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was
very beautiful to behold. (2 Samuel 11: 1, 2)
The
following scriptures can show us the many facets of our labors and the intent
God has for work.
God Uses our Abilities to Supply Our
Needs.
He who tills his
land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense (Proverbs
12:11).
When
you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well
with you (Psalm 128:2).
God Directs the Proper
Goals of Work.
Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which
endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the
Father, God, has set His seal (John 6:27).
God Uses Our Efforts to
Bless Others.
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner
you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He
Himself said, “It is more blessed to
give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the
Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).
God
Calls Us to Stay Out of Other People’s Business.
And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to
your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you (1 Thessalonians 4:11).
God Rewards
Our Excellent and Skillful Labor.
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before
kings; He will not stand before unknown men. (Proverbs 22:29)
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us
the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).
God Shows Us Our Work is for Him.
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather
than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance it is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:23).
God’s
Assignment Hasn’t Changed
While we
do battle against the elements of the earth, God’s assignment is still the
same. The Creator made people in His image and gave us the desire for
productivity and creativity.
We all have
obligations. Stay-at-home moms (I think the hardest job!), career paths in the
marketplace, school and university attendance, telecommuting, church and
evangelistic ministry, factory, and industrial paths all require us to pursue
what we desire to accomplish. When we
have the right attitude about our vocations, our souls are satisfied.
Our
identity in Christ reveals to us the reason we are here. We expand His kingdom
by exposing Him to those in our areas of influence. We should use our work to
produce a godly result, create with the talents He provides, and enjoy the
fruit of our labors. We can make the world a better place when we follow the
Lord’s will.
What other Scriptures show you the importance of our work on earth? Join the conversation.
What is the purpose of work? (click to tweet)
Another post that is right on target Ms. Barbara. Have you ever noticed how much better our meals taste when we've been working hard all day. We're tired, but the meal refreshes and restores us. Even if I'm sitting in my office writing or developing strategies, if I've kept my mind engaged and active my appetite, digestion, and everything about me feels better in general. If I lay around, and I've been known to just take a "lazy day" now and again, there's no joy in my life, it's merely a day of existence. Lots of truth in what you shared ma'am.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, J.D., after a hard day's work, that meal that calls you back to the table is much more tasty and welcoming. When we are active, our bodies and minds fall into a more restful sleep at the end of the day. I know you are one who can relate to the benefits of work after your labor on your ranch. Thanks for sharing with us. Blessings!
DeleteWork gives our lives meaning and purpose. Great post, Barbara!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nancy. Blessings!
DeleteCandyce, I have relied on Colossians 3:23 quite often. We don't work for man, we work for God. Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI had not thought of work in all these ways. Thanks for sharing this wonderful message. I pray to always be busy at my Masters work. Thanks Barbara
ReplyDeleteYvonne, I found more about God's attitude on our work as I searched these Scriptures. God's Word always inspires us with new revelation. Being busy with the Master's work is the best work we can do. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
DeleteThis is such an important message--when we are idle, we definitely tend to get ourselves in trouble. David is a good example. We honor God when we do our best at whatever task we are facing. It is through God's gifts that we have the abilities we apply in our work. Caring for our children (and grandchildren) is one of our most (if not the most) important obligations. Although I was never blessed to be a stay at home mom (I wish I could have), I value their work and the work of all caregivers, school teachers, and mentors.
ReplyDeleteWe do honor God when we do our best. Idleness not only opens the door to temptation, but also causes dissatisfaction in our souls. We were created to produce in God's kingdom. Thanks for sharing, Katherine. Blessings!
DeleteWe all desire purpose and significance. God graciously fills this need by giving us work to bring glory to Him. Yes, we sinfully disdain and distort work's purpose, but done right, it's extremely satisfying.
ReplyDeleteYes, Annie, God gave us a purpose and when we fulfill the assignment He has given us we can lead satisfied lives. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
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