From the beginning of man’s existence, work was a source of fulfillment and joy. Think about Adam being placed in the Garden of Eden to work the garden and keep it. It was that very garden that God used to provide food for Adam and in that garden was but one tree that Adam was restricted from eating.
Genesis 2:15–17 (ESV) — 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Just think about how God provided purpose and fulfilment in the garden. But that wasn’t all. God brought all the animals of creation before Adam to see what he would name them.
Genesis 2:19–20 (ESV) — 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
God even provided a mate for Adam.
Genesis 2:21–23 (ESV) — 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
What I want you to see is the great blessing Adam had in the garden and part of that blessing was the blessing of work, giving the man purpose and a source of accomplishment. Not only work, but God had established the Sabbath as a day in which to rest and be rejuvenated. In addition, God made and presented Adam with a helper, a wife to be by his side. What a blessed state! What joy Adam had in his work, his provision, his wife, and the Lord’s Sabbath.
Before we consider the quest to find that same joy in our work, we need to consider how it was lost. Genesis three describes the temptation, the lack of control in giving into the temptation, and the consequences as a result.
Genesis 3:1–7 (ESV) — 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Once God brought Adam to admitting his error in violating the simple rule of not eating of the specific tree, God described Adam’s consequences.
Genesis 3:17–19 (ESV) — 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
What Adam brought upon himself and all of mankind since is the struggle to make a living and provide for the family. It is because of this curse that jobs are tough. Sometimes it’s tougher than other times and there are seasons of satisfaction, but even in those jobs you find the stress is hard to bear. The answer is not: “take this job and ….” The answer is finding the joy of the Lord as your strength, recognizing that true satisfaction or contentment is a blessing from God that has to be learned through a variety of circumstances.
Philippians 4:12–13 (ESV) — 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Here are some things you can do regarding your employment situation when things don’t seem to be to your liking.
First, remember that you are really working for one person and it’s not you or your employer, but the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, give your best at all times.
Colossians 3:23–24 (ESV) — 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Ephesians 6:5–8 (ESV) — 5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. (In this case, “bondservant” is like an employee and “master” as the boss.)
Secondly, pray for and seek to be and demonstrate contentment in your current situation. This means you do not complain, and when you do you take your complaint to the Lord. (And the best way to do that is through a lament.)
Thirdly, seek the Lord’s wisdom and open doors regarding new employment and ask in faith, believing Him.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
Check out the PowerBreak podcast wherever you download podcasts or from our website; www.bobbrubaker.com
