From Ribs To Wow

Genesis 2:15-25

“From Ribs to WOW”

“A righteous relationship is based on what God has given us.”

Sunday Morning Sermon

08.10.08

Intro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGVMG0EBDus

(Start with Title and Text)

A righteous relationship is based on what God has given us. You and I must honor what God has given to us – so that our relationships honor him. Listen, Our “God Bless America” country (I did say that right, just in case you ever run for President) – Our country has taken what God has given us – and instead of the honor pointing back to God – Our society has given us the mirror – and said – “You do what honors you.” “You do what feels right.” -- “You do whatever is the most expedient.” Listen, we have taken those ideas – and have tried to baptize them. We have taken what God has given us, adapted to society, and have tried to force God to come along – gain his approval, we even claim his approval. God wants us to honor him in our relationships by honoring what he has given us.

Listen, if you simply honor his desire for your relationships – married, unmarried, want to be married, have been married, never want to get married – whatever group you fit in, you will honor God, by honoring what he has given you.

We’ve convinced Hailey that boys are yucky – She came up to me one time and said boys are yucky – I said – “Oh Yeah, Girls smell funny.” She told me a few weeks ago – “Daddy, Boys are not yucky.” – I told her – “Girls still smell funny.”

Men and women are different. One time a man was thinking about his girlfriend – and he was a religious man so he got into this dialogue with God – He asked God – Why did you make her so kind hearted? God responded – so you could love her. Why did you make her so good looking? God responded – so you could love her. Why did you make her such a good cook? God responded – so you could love her.

The man thought about it for a second – then he said, God…I don’t mean to seem ungrateful, but why did you make her so Stupid? God said – “So she could love you.”

Discussion:

Why is it – that we are so different? Why is it – that girls grow up playing princess taking friends to the bathroom, and dream about their wedding day, hoping to be a mother. Boys grow up, playing cops and robbers, going to the bathroom alone – AMEN! And dreaming about the wedding night. Did I just say that? Listen, God made us different, so we could complement each other – and honor him. Even from the beginning – God had a purpose for both the man and the woman – If you have your Bibles turn with me to Genesis 2:15-25 (read) (Advance)

If a righteous relationship is based on what God has given – what has God given us? I see two things – speaking to both men and women – married and unmarried. He has given us: (Advance)

I. Work

Adam was a gardener. We like to think of the Garden of Eden as this place sustained by God – Biblically it was started by God and entrusted to man. (Advance)

Genesis 2:15 (NIV) – The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

God created the garden with age – so that it could feed the adult that he placed there. This is not easy work – but it’s fulfilling work. Someone who can take a seed and plants it in the ground, waters it and gives it nutrition, and watches it grow – is more like God, than they might know. This speaks of patience, and care and hope and timing. Planting tulips in the middle of the summer won’t get you very many plants – you have to plant them right before the first freeze. God has a purpose for the work he gives us.

a. Adam’s work –

i. To take care of and work the garden

Literally means “To till it and guard it” – The words are common in a religious sense of serving God – instead of the creation he has made: (Advance)

Deuteronomy 4:19 (NIV) – And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

Application:

b. Our work – is the same but different

i. We have been entrusted by God