Genesis 2
- Genesis 2:1-3, 15
There has been a great deal of discussion in our country, during the past 8 months especially, about work, capitalism, socialism, and the ownership of private property.
We are having some difficult times, and people are struggling, but there are some things we need to realize and remember this morning.
“A few centuries ago, 4/5s of the French spent 90% of their income for food. With only what you and I consider a marginal tip to a waitress, they had to provide for all of their other needs. Europe had been in that condition for thousands of years. Until recent times, Europe was little different from modern Africa with the vast majority of people living on subsistence wages, eking out an existence from hand to mouth. Even as recently as 1780 in Germany, fewer than 1,000 people earned $1,000 a year or more.” ( D. James Kennedy, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born, Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1994, p. 117)
Today, according to the 2000 census, 46% of all poor households in our country, own their own homes. 76% of poor households have air conditioning, while 30 years ago, only 36% of the entire US population enjoyed air conditioning.
In 1973, the average new house had 1660 square feet. Today the average new home being built is 2,434 square feet. The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other cities throughout Europe. (Note: These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries not to those classified as poor.) I remember hearing at the Jerusalem Model at the Holy Land that in Israel’s early days, the average home in Jerusalem had only 300-600 square feet.
Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30% own two or more cars. Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television. Over half own two or more color televisions. Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player. Sixty-two percent have cable or satellite TV reception. Seventy-three percent own microwave ovens; more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher. As a group the poor are far from being chronically undernourished. Most poor children today are in fact super-nourished, on average growing up to be one inch taller and ten pounds heavier than the GIs who stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War II. (Poverty, American Style, by FairOpinion, Oct. 13,2003).
These are those described by our government as being “poor” and yet the poor in this country are better off than the majority of people in the rest of the world.
How did this come about? It came about because of the blessings of God and through a work ethic based on Christian principles; something we often refer to as the Christian work ethic.
As we continue our study of Genesis, it is interesting to note in Genesis 2:15, that God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and that while they were there, they were expected to work. Verse 15 says that God placed man in the Garden to work it and watch over it.
I. GOD INTENDS FOR US TO WORK
Many have the mistaken idea that work was caused by the curse, or the fall, but it wasn’t. From the very beginning God intended for us to work. Work sparks our creativity. Work brings a sense of accomplishment and achievement. To make something, to accomplish something, to build something, to design something, all of these abilities are given to us as gifts by God. When we work, when we build, accomplish, and design, we are following the example of our Heavenly Father Who also worked.
Genesis 2:1-3 tells us that at the end of 6 days God the Father rested from all of the work that He had done. God, Who has never sinned, and has never made a mistake; God, Who is infinitely wise and infinitely strong, worked. Then, He looked back over everything He had created and saw that it was good. He was pleased with what He had done.
> Exodus 20:8-9 Remember to dedicate the Sabbath day: You are to labor six days and do all your work,
We often notice God’s prohibition against working on the Sabbath day, in these verses, but we often miss another part, which is His plan for us to be working, producing, contributing the other 6 days. God intends for us to work.
Prior to Christ, the nations of old despised honest work and consigned it to slaves. 3/4s of Athens and ½ the Roman Empire were made up of slaves. But Jesus revolutionized labor. By picking up the saw, the hammer and the plane, He gave labor new dignity. Why?, because God intends for us to work. D. James Kennedy, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born, Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1994, p. 107)
II. GOD INTENDS FOR US TO DO OUR BEST
> Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,
“Fidel Castro has on occasion reluctantly admitted that he admires many of the evangelicals in Cuba. This is because they are hard workers; they show up to work on time; they don’t cheat the system. In short, although he strongly disagrees with their world view, the Communist dictator recognizes that Christians are hard workers.” (Ibid, 107) Christians, living like Christians, do their best at all they do because they want to please God in all they do. (Ibid)
- Ephesians 6:5-8
We do our best because we know:
a. It pleases God – We want to please our Heavenly Father.
A number of years ago, a man stopped to talk with a woman who was cleaning the steps leading into the building he worked at. He commented on how she was doing the menial job, in a difficult environment, and yet she did it with a song and a smile. He asked her, “How do you keep such a good spirit?” She replied, “I am happy because I am cleaning these steps for Jesus.”
b. It is a witness – We want others to think well of the God we serve.
c. It brings rewards – God rewards those who faithfully serve Him.
Among other things, …
1. Peace – Matthew 6:25-34
2. Wisdom – > James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.
III. GOD ALLOWS US TO HAVE PRIVATE PROPERTY
- Exodus 20:15, 17
“Larry Burkett, the founder of Christian Financial Concepts, points out that the bible-with more than 700 references to money-says more about economics than many other subjects. He writes: Money is such an important subject that nearly two-thirds of the parables that Christ left us deal with the use and handling of it. That alone should tell us the importance of understanding God’s plan for finance.
What does the Bible says about economics? In the 10 Commandments alone, we have a sound endorsement of private property, the foundation of all good economics. The commandment, “Thou shalt not steal”, is a divine guarantee of private property. I cannot steal something from you if you do not own it. The same is true of the command in verse 17.
Author John Chamberlain, in The Roots of Capitalism, writes:
“Thou shalt not steal” means that the Bible allows ownership of private property-for if a thing is not owned in the first place it can scarcely be stolen. “Thou shalt not covet” means that it is sinful even to contemplate the seizure of another man’s goods… As for the Commandment to “honor they father and thy other that thy days may be long,” this implies that the family, not the State, is the basic continuing unit of society.” Quoted in D. James Kennedy, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born, Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1994, p. 117)
IV. GOD EXPECTS US TO HELP OTHERS
- Matthew 25:31-46
God expects us, as a church and as individuals, to help people. We are to help them when they are sick. We are to help them when they are hurting. We are to help them when they are hungry. We are to help them, if they are willing to work. Let me say that again. We are to help them if they are willing to work, if they are willing to do something to help themselves.
> 2 Thessalonians 3:10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”
That is one of the problems we have in our country, we have confused our responsibility with the government’s responsibility. We want the government to do what God has commanded us to do. Many in our churches today, and even more outside of our churches, want the government to take money from some folks to help other folks. Often, they want the government to do that so they won’t feel guilty about not doing anything to help people themselves. The Bible teaches that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, that we are our brother’s keeper. Many now want the government to be their brother’s keeper instead, so they legislate taking from the rich to give to the poor.
As Doctor Adrian Rogers once said, “Anytime someone gets something they did not work for, it means someone worked for something they did not get.” That my friend is stealing.
God expects us, to help people. That is the church and the individual Christians’ responsibility. When we look to the government to take care of us instead of taking care of each other, or instead of looking to God, we are headed down the road of socialism.
Many people are not aware that in America, we have seen a perfect, almost laboratory, experiment of socialism. Ironically, the United States, the land of the free-enterprise system, began with socialism.
Governor William Bradford’s account of the story of Plymouth Plantation discusses how the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth and their leaders initially planned to have everyone own and share everything. They planned for the people to work for the common good, and believed that this would produce great happiness and satisfaction and prosperity. That was in 1620.
The result was a tremendous crop failure in the first year. Many people were hungry; many people were starving. In spite of the needs of the people and the fact that many people had already died from hunger, starvation, and disease, the following year another poor crop developed.
In 1623 Governor Bradford, seeing that the communal living was not working, said that every man would get a parcel of land for his own. He would work that land and take care of his own family. Thus, they put 2 Thessalonians 3:10 into practice. The result: People began working much more diligently than they had the previous 2 years. Men who had frequently claimed they were sick in earlier years, were eager to get to the fields. Even the women, who claimed they had too much to do in their cabins to work in the fields, now took their children to the fields with them and eagerly worked the land as a family.
That year, they had a tremendous harvest, and a tremendous Thanksgiving was celebrated in America. When socialism ceased in America, thanksgiving followed. When socialism is reinstated in America, thanksgiving will cease. ( D. James Kennedy, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born, Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1994, p. 117)
So, in these trying times and often discouraging days, how should we respond?
V. A CHRISTIAN RESPONDS TO DIFFICULT DAYS BY
1. Opening his heart and his hand to those in need
> Matthew 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.
2. Trusting the overruling providence of God
– Philippians 4:10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked the opportunity [to show it].
Paul’s not frustrated. He says, you just didn’t have an opportunity, which means God never made it happen. And if God didn’t make it happen, it didn’t happen. If God wanted it to happen, it would happen. It’s confidence in the providence of God.
Joseph - Nothing is an accident. These things happen according to the providence of God.
3. Seeking the unfailing power of God –
- Philippians 4:11-13
My friend, you will not find contentment or peace apart from Jesus Christ. We often emphasize the crucifixion of Jesus, forgetting the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus died, paying for our sins. He rose, to give us the strength to live the new life.
- John 15:5
4. Believing the unfailing promise of God –
- Philippians 4:19
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. [Psalm 73:25-26] It really seems that contentment begins to grow when we come to understand that our greatest treasure is our relationship with the Savior.
> Psalm 121:1-2 I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Sing with me if you know the verse.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim. In the light of His glory and grace.
