The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
– Genesis 2:15
Work did not begin as a curse; it began as a calling. Before sin ever entered the world, God placed Adam in the garden and entrusted him with meaningful labour. The Hebrew word “avodah,” translated “to work,” is also used elsewhere in Scripture for “worship.” God’s original intent for human labour is that that work would be an act of worship, a joyful expression of partnership with the Creator in sustaining and cultivating His creation. Work, therefore, is not a lesser, secular activity to be endured until we can “do ministry.” Work itself is ministry when done with a heart of worship.
To recover this view of work requires one to tear down the artificial wall between sacred and secular. The office, classroom, workshop, or field can be as holy as the meeting place of the church when our labour is offered unto the Lord. The Christian worker is not merely producing goods or services but participating in God’s ongoing creation and care of the world. When we see work as “avodah,” even the most routine task can become a sacred offering to the God who works through us.
Prayer
Lord, help me to labour faithfully and joyfully, knowing that every task, whether great or small, can glorify You when done in a worshipful manner. May my workplace become an altar where Your will is done in all I do. Amen.
Meditation
How would your attitude toward your daily work change if you truly saw it as an act of worship to God rather than just a means to make a living?