Message summary: Meaningful work is a core feature of God’s design. All through the Bible we see people doing various types of work.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15).

In six days God did all His work in creation and “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done" (Genesis 2:1,2). So from the very beginning God Himself is the supreme example and model of work and rest.

Adam's first job was to care for the animals and be a nurseryman in the Garden of Eden. Meaningful work is a core feature of God’s design from the very beginning. Now certainly God could have made a world where He did all the work and our lives would be nothing but rest and leisure (that seems to be the way many people think it should work!)

The Bible talks about work a lot. In the Ten Commandments we have the command “Six days you shall work” although the command is usually focused on the Sabbath Day of rest. All through the Bible we see people doing various types of work.

Jesus worked as a carpenter prior to beginning His ministry and His parables often use agricultural, construction, or trade imagery to convey spiritual truths, reflecting Jesus’ familiarity with varied work settings. In fact a careful analysis shows that 32 of the 37 parables in the Gospels reference work roles or economic activities.

Paul worked as a tentmaker and in his teachings addressed the value of work.

We are to work:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17).

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber