Doing Good Work Honours God
I was very young when I first heard the story of how God created the heavens, earth, the animals, and man all within seven days. As amazing as the story is, I find the story has taken on new meaning as I get older.
I like the book of Genesis. It starts with the BEGINNING. Not just any beginning… the very FIRST beginning. Within the first few verses and chapters we start to learn about who God is and what He is capable of.
It’s amazing stuff.
The stories contained in this part of the bible helps us understand just a few things about God’s character. He’s creative. He plans. He executes. He improves. In short, He works! And He takes time to recognize just how good His work is.
Before going any further, take a moment and read our passage today, found in Genesis 2:4-17, 19-20.
Verses 4 to 14 reads as a summary of events, and also gives more insight into just what God created. It was amazing. Beautiful. Self sustaining. In fact, what he created was “pleasing to look at and good for eating.”(v. 9). Once the garden was created, God then created man and intended for him to take care of it.
Then, verses 15-17, and 19-20 explains what He expected Adam to do. Here are a couple of thoughts as we read this passage and think about what we can learn from it…
When we think of the idea of work, we often think of it as consequence for sin. That it was assigned to man as a result of the sin of eating from the forbidden tree. I don’t believe that’s correct. In this passage, we read that man was expected to work from the very beginning of his creation. Before the fall. It wasn’t part of the punishment. It was part of the PLAN.
Work is an invitation to serve God. In this story, we see that God had created a perfect environment for man to exist. Adam’s recognition and appreciation of God was displayed in how well he accepted his purpose, kept the Garden, and cared for the animals. This was Adam’s way of giving back to God as an act of service and worship.
Everything was working as intended. It was perfect. Until it wasn’t.
We know the rest of the story. Adam and Eve (equal responsibility) both chose to do that which God said they should not. They ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The result? Sin. Separation from God. Exile from the perfect place. The introduction of death.
You know, this same story continues to play out in our lives today.
Have you considered that God has given you a “garden” to care for? The world that is within arm’s length of you is part of that garden. He has given you the responsibility to tend it wisely. He asks that you accept your role as an act of service to Him. He also asks (commands?) you to refrain from sinful behaviours as you do so. Easier said than done, for sure. After all, you are only human.
We all have experienced sin, and the sin of the world has impacted us.
It has taken things from us and has removed us from God’s provision.
God gives us all we need to thrive but sometimes we fixate on the things we cannot (should not) have. (As Adam and Eve in the Garden). For instance, we are sometimes tempted to “have more” when He has already given us enough. At other times we believe our hard work deserves more reward and we reach out to take that which we should not have, or was not intended for us.
Sin causes us to act as consumers rather than stewards. Consumers take. They do not care about the practices required to provide for others, only themselves. Stewards maintain and even build. They are concerned with ensuring the processes provide enough to sustain everyone.
I believe God is still “active” in the world today, and we are called to be willing participants in caring for all that He is creating. We are not called to be God. Sometimes, we are tempted to look at all we have worked to develop, and grow in our business, and our lives, and take credit for being the “creator” of it. The allure and temptation of more or “not having enough” sometimes takes our eyes off of all the good things God has already given us to grow and maintain.
As you start your week, I encourage you to consider your home and workplace to be the garden God has given you to tend. Do it with a sense of purpose. And watch out for the snakes.
My PRAYER:
God, I thank You for being who You are. I thank you for creating me to be a person who works. I pray that I would be a faithful and good steward of the garden you have given me to tend. May I do so with purpose and passion. Amen.
Blessing As Always!
Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
Email: president@corpath.ca
“Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit”
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.
