We’ve seen that from the very beginning, work was made to be good part of life. It’s part of God’s life, Jesus’ life, and now we see it was meant to be part of our life.
In Genesis 2:1-15
[5] When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, [6] and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground—[7] then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. [8] And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. [9] And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Then in v. [15] The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
We were created to work…it’s not something added in after the fact.
After creating, and caring for his creation, God commissions workers to continue that care.
We’re the only part of creation given a job description. Other animals will simply multiply, but humans are commanded to fill the earth. Not to just reproduce like bunnies, but to do this intentionally. We see this in how humans have developed civilizations and societies.
Here we see humans are in the garden to work and keep it. Earlier in the creation story, it says humans were to rule the earth – sounds violent – but can’t be since this is before rebellion and sin added violence into our world. We were meant to steward the earth’s resources – like an investment professional cares for others’ money. Make it grow, last, and be useful.
We also see two kinds of work – this isn’t just about paid work outside the home – filling the earth involves manual labour, civilization building, and raising families.
This explains why we need work: I knew someone who never needed to work because of a disability, but still dreamt of working hard. Or consider those out of work, they can so easily become depressed unless they find some kind of meaningful work, whether it’s paid or not, job searching or a hobby.
This is why so many of you answered on Facebook you wouldn’t stop working, but you might change how you work.
Question: Have you ever been out of work? What was it like? How did you cope – did it involve a different kind of work?
Acknowledgements: Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavour and Work & Rest
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Last week, we talked about priorities, and that putting God and his kingdom first pours into other areas of life.
This passage follows on from there, since it begins with “therefore I tell you.” It’s like Jesus is saying IF you choose God, light and heaven, it has consequences for your life.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV)
Now, to clear up a few misconceptions, Jesus has nothing against material things – they matter! He made them and although our world is broken, he intends to redeem the material world, not just our spirits. Jesus cares about the body & world – he made them both. But he wants to worry about it, not for us to worry about it.
He has nothing against making plans - watch a bird build a nest! They are not lazy, they work hard, but they are reliant on what is provided for them in nature. Worry has no place there.
We all need purpose in life – we are made to be seekers - not aimless.
We can live for any number of aims, though. Career, power, perfection, love, etc. Jesus reduces all our possible ambitions/purposes to two options: selfish security or heavenly kingdom.
Having goals, plans and material things isn’t the problem. Worry is the problem – when these things become sources of anxiety that cut to the core of who we are.
Question: What’s the difference between prudent planning, and anxious worry? How does that show up in your life?
