Working and Caring: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it..." Why are we here? What is our purpose? So much of our God-given purpose is found in our work. Good work can be paid or unpaid, in or outside the home, in a variety of roles or industries. People were created to do good work. Recorded on Jan 30, 2022, on Genesis 2:4-17, by Pastor David Parks.

This sermon is part of our series, The Making of Heaven and Earth. There are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. These chapters dramatically shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. More importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things.

Sermon Transcript

All year, we’re talking about The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called The Making of Heaven and Earth from Genesis 1-3. As we’ve said, there are few more important chapters ever written than the first three chapters of Genesis. The creation narratives of the Bible shape our understanding of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the reason why things are the way they are today. But more importantly, they introduce us to the God who created and sustains all things. Two weeks ago, Ted kicked off this series looking at the pattern of creation by a God who speaks. Creation doesn’t come by chance or by conflict, but by God’s word which brings light out of darkness and order out of chaos. And the power/authority of God’s word results in flourishing life. Last week, Joe preached on the intent of God in creating human beings, both male and female, and the incredible worth we have as creatures made in the image of God. We’ve already considered some foundational truths: you are not an accident, but the good intention of a creator who speaks. And you are not left having to create your own worth, but rather, you have infinite worth because of how God made you. Well, today we’re considering the creation of work, and this is a story of purpose. We’ve seen, so far, the stage on which these human creatures, loved and made in the image of God, are supposed to play — a beautiful world, teaming with life. But what have we been created to do? People have always wrestled with this question. Why are we here? Is there some God-given purpose for our lives? The answer, in Ge 2, is absolutely yes. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Genesis 2:4.

Genesis 2:4-17 (NIV), “4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth[a] and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams[b] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.[e] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east ...