VS. March 15, 2025 Devotional
March 15, 2025
GENESIS 1:28 | 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’
GENESIS 2:15 | 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.
Diligence in our work is rooted in the creative commandment of God. Work is prominent in the Garden of Eden prior to the fall. After Adam and Eve defy God and rebel, work becomes harder; “by the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread...” (Genesis 3:19) But the fact that work can be arduous and life-sapping must not blind us to its original purpose: our work is part of the way we share in the divine image. Our “dominion” is an assignment from the ultimate sovereign, and our call to subdue the earth is a call to understand, treasure and care for it, like wise gardeners. Work, in this understanding, is a wondrous power, allowing us to grow in responsibility and understanding, as stewards of the world. Work then, is meant to be a precious gift, enhancing our identity and blessing the creation.
Do you have a “theology of work?”
Gracious God,
My work can enhance my dignity. Help me respond to your call to exercise my vital powers for good purposes.
Amen.
