“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” – Genesis 2:15

Yesterday I spent the day welding, grinding, and shaping metal. I am putting an overdrive transmission in my old 1972 Ford F100 pickup truck and I have to modify the floor in order to make it fit. Working on my truck is one of my favorite things to do on my day off. Even though I am less than talented when it comes to metal fabrication and mechanic work, it feels really good to step back at the end of the day and say, “I accomplished that today!”

Putting in a good day’s work is not some kind of punishment or the result of living in a fallen world. In the Garden of Eden, before sin entered the world, God had Adam working in the garden. As people made in God’s image, we have ingrained in us the desire to work. We need to be productive to be fulfilled. As strange as it may sound, physical work is especially important for followers of Christ. The work we do for God’s kingdom is eternally important. However, it is not tangible. We very seldom get to see physical results. The work is done in the hearts of those around us. So just like in the Garden of Eden, it is good for us to get out and work with our hands. Every once in a while, take the time to build something, make something, create something, or care for something. It is good for your soul.

Lord, keep us from laziness and teach us the value of work.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon