Read Genesis 2:7-15 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
- What work did God do?
- What work did God give Adam and Eve to do?
- Did this happen before or after they sinned?
Reflect
At the beginning of time, God created the heavens and the earth and declared them good. He went to work designing, planning, crafting, and building, and He found pleasure in it. He created the first humans in His image, and then He gave them a job to do: watching over and tending to the Garden of Eden. All this work happened before sin entered the picture, meaning work was part of a perfect world.
We can conclude that there will be meaningful, fulfilling, and redeemed work in Heaven. Work isn’t the curse of sin – sin has cursed the work we do. If we think that work is the result of sin, then there will always be something inside us that resents it, and we’ll struggle to find our calling and blessing in the work.
A big part of discovering your life’s purpose is pursuing meaningful work. It’s part of what it means to be made in the image of God. The rest of this week you’ll read about how God cares for you and intentionally made you with a plan and purpose, including the work you do.
Respond
- How have you viewed work in the past? Has that changed based on today’s Scripture?
- Do you find it easy or difficult to view work as part of God’s good creation, and why?
- Who in your life would be encouraged by this truth, whether they’re in an unfulfilling job, searching for the perfect work, or somewhere in between?
Pray through these questions, and write down what God is prompting you to do next. Share with a friend, and take a step to apply it.