Labor Day
Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Genesis 2:15
It’s easy to grumble about work. Alarms buzz too early. Emails pile up. Our muscles ache. Some days, it feels like we’re stuck in a never-ending loop of tasks that wear us down. We might even joke that work is a necessary evil. But is it?
Genesis 2 tells a different story. Before sin entered the world, before the curse came down, God gave Adam a job. He was placed in the garden “to tend and keep it.” That tells us something important: work is not a result of the Fall—it’s a gift of creation. Work, in its purest form, is good. It gives purpose, rhythm, and opportunity to serve.
Of course, Genesis 3 reminds us that sin didn’t leave work untouched. After the Fall, thorns and sweat became part of the equation. Labor turned into toil. Deadlines, disappointments, and exhaustion entered in. But the good news is that Christ has come to redeem not only us—but all aspects of our lives, including our labor.
Jesus came into this fallen world and took up a carpenter’s tools. He knew the weight of a day’s work. More than that, He knew the weight of our sin, which He bore on the cross. His resurrection secures our forgiveness and gives lasting hope—not only for our souls but for the work of our hands. In Him, our daily tasks are no longer cursed toil, but redeemed opportunities to love and serve.
When you work in faith—whether you’re raising children, building homes, organizing files, or caring for others—you are reflecting the image of your Creator. It doesn’t have to be glamorous to be godly. It just needs to be done in love, relying on Christ.
So the next time your work feels pointless or exhausting, remember: it was God who gave work to man in paradise. And it’s God who now blesses your labor in Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank You for redeeming not only my soul but also the work of my hands. Help me to see my daily tasks as a gift from You. Amen.