Work: God's Design, Not a Curse

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

Sometimes we think that work is a necessary evil. We might even believe that work came as a result of the curse after Adam and Eve sinned. But if we read Scripture closely, we see that God designed work before sin ever entered the world. Genesis 2:15 tells us that God put Adam in the garden to tend and keep it. This was before the fall. Work was always part of God's plan for humanity. It was never meant to be a punishment.

Think about this: God told Adam and Eve to subdue the earth and have dominion over it. That sounds like work to me. It wasn’t sinful or burdensome—it was part of their purpose. The misconception that work is a curse can lead us to dread Monday mornings and long for weekends. But what if we saw our work as something holy, as something God designed us to do from the very beginning?

There was a man driving through town behind a large box truck. It was one of those pet store trucks, the kind that might be transporting animals. Both vehicles were headed in the same direction, stopping at several lights along the way.

At every single red light, the man driving behind noticed something unusual. The truck driver would hop out of his cab, grab a massive two-by-four, and start banging on the side of the truck. Over and over, at every stoplight, he’d do the same thing—bang, bang, bang on the side of the truck. Then, as soon as the light turned green, he’d jump back in, drive on to the next light, and repeat the process.

Eventually, the curious man behind him couldn’t stand it any longer. At one of the red lights, he rolled down his window and called out, “Hey! What are you doing?”

The truck driver, still mid-stride with the two-by-four in hand, explained, “Well, you see, I’ve got two tons of canaries in this truck. But here’s the problem: my truck is only designed to carry one ton. So, every time I stop, I bang on the side of the truck to keep half of them in the air so the truck can keep moving until the next light.”

Don’t we feel like that sometimes? We’re expected to carry more than we think we can bear. Our capacity feels like one ton, but we’re asked to manage two. Stress builds up, and we start questioning how work could possibly be a blessing. But the truth is, God never intended for work to crush us. He designed it to bring purpose and fulfillment to our lives.

When we view work from God's perspective, it shifts everything. Our tasks, no matter how mundane, take on meaning. Whether you’re a homemaker, a factory worker, a teacher, or a dentist cleaning teeth, your work matters to God. It’s not just about earning a paycheck; it’s about fulfilling the purpose God has for you.

Reflective Question: How can seeing work as part of God’s original design change the way you approach your daily tasks?

“Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me that work is not a curse but a gift You’ve given me. Help me to view my work as part of Your design and to find joy and purpose in it. Teach me to glorify You in all that I do, no matter how big or small the task. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Taken from "Seeing Work from God's Perspective": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/hh52v86/1-seeing-work-from-god-s-perspective