Is Work A Curse? Series

Open your Bibles to Genesis 2, page 2 of our red church Bibles. Genesis 2:1-2……….

God worked for 6 days and on the 7th day He rested.

Last week we noted this godly rest of God which is a lesson for us. God rested and so must we. We are to rest physically, but more importantly, we are to rest spiritually in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath; the Lord of Peace and Rest!

Before we talk about godly work this morning, let us take a moment to reflect on this rest in Christ. Please take your bulletin insert and quietly pray to Jesus Christ, Psalm 116….

Sing with me, “When peace like a river…………..”

Let us pray our commitment to God’s Word……..

Now read with me Genesis 2:4-15………….

It was God’s plan that man work the earth.

At first glance, v4-7 seem to indicate that man was created before plants. But what is the most important thing to note about understanding the Bible? Always look in context. In Genesis 1, God was specific about the order of creation. God created the earth and the sun on the first day.

God created the original sky on the 2nd day.

The land, seas, plants & trees were created on the 3rd day.

God created the universe on the 4th day.

Water creatures and birds were created on the 5th day.

All other creatures and man were created on the 6th day.

Always interpret Scriptures in context. And because what we have are English translations of the original Bible, it is helpful to read other translations when confronted with a question. Here’s how the NKJV of Genesis 2:4-7 reads…..

There is no question, God’s final creation was man.

The points of Genesis 2:4-7 are as follows:

- there was no rain on earth in the beginning.

Rain didn’t happen until Noah’s time.

- before man, there was no one to work God’s Creation

- God did all the work before man

This is even more clearer in v8-15.

v8-9: God planted a garden in Eden. God formed man and placed him in the garden. God made all kinds of trees.

v15: God gave man the honor to work and care for God’s Creation.

Look back briefly with me to Genesis 1:27-28……….

God created man and woman in His image. God gave man and woman the privilege to work what God started. God’s original plan was for man and woman to enjoy godly work and be masters of all creation! Godly work is good and is to be enjoyed.

What do we hear today about work?

Do these ring a bell?

My supervisors are so hard on me.

Why do I have a secular job when I could be doing ministry?

My job is so demanding; I don’t have time for anything else!

I’m so scared of losing my job.

I feel no worth in just keeping the home and family.

I’m finally successful in my career, but my kids are so demanding.

I’m just a “factory worker” to pay the bills.

How can I soar like an eagle when I’m working with turkeys?

What happened to enjoying work?

What do we read in Genesis 3?

Man and woman were partnered to enjoy life and do the work God called them to do.

But man and woman disobeyed God and the joy of work was blemished. Sin blemishes everything!

Look at Genesis 3:16……..

After sin, the godly work of having children became painful. I think this is true, because my first visit to a labor and delivery floor of a hospital I heard this woman screaming.

I asked the nurse what was going on; she said, “Oh, someone is just having a baby.”

We also note in Gen. 3:16, the joy of working together as husband and wife was stained by sin.

And look at Gen. 3:17-19……………

Because of disobedience to God, man’s work became hard and man now faces the pain of physical death.

God called man and woman to enjoy godly work but sin corrupted the joy of work.

But even after sin, God stills calls people to godly work!

Proverbs 14:23 – All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads to poverty.

Ecclesiastes 3:22a: - There is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work.

Ecclesiastes 5:12: The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much.

And what does God say in the New Testament about work?

2 Thessalonians 3:10b says “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” God is not talking about people who can’t work because of illness, or the elderly, or disabled.

Even after the resurrection of Christ and the filling of the Holy Spirit, godly work is good and is to be enjoyed. Disobeying God, choosing not to work, brings consequences. 1 Timothy 5:8 tells us “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Colossians 3:23-24 states “ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”