A Theology of Work
A Theology of Work from Genesis 2...

Doak Taylor • Lead Pastor and Elder
August 3, 2026

5 Minute Read
Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
The Hebrew verbs are significant:
Work - ʿābad – to work, serve, cultivate
Keep - šāmar – to keep, guard, protect, watch over
Together these words describe both productive labor & faithful stewardship. From Genesis 2 we develop several foundational principles on this subject.
1. Work Is God's Idea – Genesis 2:2-3
Before Adam ever worked we see that God Himself worked. Genesis 2:2-3 communicates that God completed His work & rested. Adam is then created in God's image and immediately given work. The pattern is...
(1) God is at work (2) God creates man in His image
(3) Therefore man works as instructed & purposed by God.
Human work reflects the character of the Creator. For us, work is part of bearing God's image. We imitate the Creator when we engage in honest, productive labor entrusted to us. Christians should never apologize for diligent work for we are called to the practice. Not matter the vocation one has, it reflects something about God's own creative activity & calling.
2. Work Is Part of Humanity’s Purpose
Genesis 2 never presents work as punishment for we see that Adam is placed in Eden to work by God's loving design.
Notice the order...(1) Creation (2) Adam lives in Relationship with God (3) Adam is Given the Purpose of Work (4) Adam enters in Marriage to Eve at God's loving design
Work is woven into the very purpose of humanity and without meaningful work, something is missing from human flourishing. We see this affirmed in Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3:23, & in 2 Thessalonians 3. God created us to contribute, not just to be merely consumers. This purpose from God in His creation design shows that we are special contributors to develop the creation.
3. Work Is Stewardship
Adam does not own the garden - God does, for He is its designer & creator. As God places Adam is in its midst, Adam becomes a steward – Eden’s caretaker & developer. Genesis repeatedly emphasizes...
God planted the garden.
God made everything to grow.
God owns everything.
Adam manages what belongs to God
This is the pattern in Scripture - God is the Creator & Master of His creation...Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Jesus later develops this truth in His parables of the talents. Christians never truly own anything for we manage God's resources. This includes...• time • money • abilities • influence • careers• possessions
4. Work Has Both Productive & Protective Responsibilities
The two commands in Genesis 2 are instructive for us...
Work it - ābad
Adam is to cultivate & develop what God made. Every aspect of God’s creation has tremendous potential & it is our labor that helps unfold that potential. Examples include...• farming
• engineering • medicine • teaching • business • parenting
Good work by humanity develops God's world to be a place of flourishing.
· "Keep it" - šāmar
Not only is Adam to work what God made, but he must guard what has been entrusted to him, which includes preserving God's order. Sadly, Adam later fails to guard the garden when the serpent enters & he stands by as Eve speaks with him. Instead of protecting his wife, he passively allows deception to come upon Eve & does not stand up against the lies of the enemy. His failure to "keep" the garden in that instance leads to the Fall. Christian work is not only about creating, but It is about protecting what is good by our standing as faithful watchman of all that is true.
5. Work Is to be Seen & Done as Worship
The Hebrew word ābad often means both...to work...to serve, but it can also mean "worship".
The Old Testament uses the same word for serving God at times in worship. This idea is purposeful, not accidental. The Bible does not separate work from worship. As believers work faithfully for God, our work becomes an act & expression of faithful worshipful service to Him. We see the depth of this in...
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Christ-followers work hard because Christ is our Master, so we work heartily & honestly because we know Christ is near & sees not only our heart in work, but our effort in it. We don’t take shortcuts, or a path of deception or dishonesty, as our work belongs to Christ. We work from the soul in loving Him.
Christ will transform our ordinary work into worship where Monday morning work is an extension of Sunday worship.
6. Work Is Done Under God's Authority
God determines...
(1) Where Adam works
(2) What Adam does
(3) How Adam works
Adam doesn't invent his own purpose, He receives it from the Lord. Likewise, Christians seek God's purposes rather than personal ambition. Our careers are not ultimately self-directed by us, but they are callings & rest in the leadership of God.
7. Work Is Good Before the Fall
This is an important theological observation, as we see the process that Genesis 2 comes before Genesis 3. Therefore, work is good, holy, dignified, purposely, at times exhausting & glorifies God. The Fall does not create work for Adam, but it does do this, it makes word harder by bringing in sweat, frustration, thorns & exhaustion.
Even though the curse affected work, it was not to move us to just see work as something connected to the curse, for we are to still see work as good.
Genesis 3:17-19 teaches that the curse affects work, not its goodness.
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A Theology of Work
Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. The Hebrew verbs are significant: Work - ʿābad – to work, serve, cultivate Keep - šāmar – to keep, guard, protect, watch over Together these words describe both productive labor & faithful stewardship. From Genesis 2 we develop several foundational principles on this subject. 1. Work Is God's Idea – Genesis 2:2-3 Before Adam ever worked we see that God Himself worked. Genesis 2:2-3 communicates that God completed His work & rested. Adam is then created in God's image and immediately given work. The pattern is... (1) God is at work (2) God creates man in His image (3) Therefore man works as instructed & purposed by God. Human work reflects the character of the Creator. For us, work is part of bearing God's image. We imitate the Creator when we engage in honest, productive labor entrusted to us. Christians should never apologize for diligent work for we are called to the practice. Not matter the vocation one has, it reflects something about God's own creative activity & calling. 2. Work Is Part of Humanity’s Purpose Genesis 2 never presents work as punishment for we see that Adam is placed in Eden to work by God's loving design. Notice the order...(1) Creation (2) Adam lives in Relationship with God (3) Adam is Given the Purpose of Work (4) Adam enters in Marriage to Eve at God's loving design Work is woven into the very purpose of humanity and without meaningful work, something is missing from human flourishing. We see this affirmed in Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3:23, & in 2 Thessalonians 3. God created us to contribute, not just to be merely consumers. This purpose from God in His creation design shows that we are special contributors to develop the creation. 3. Work Is Stewardship Adam does not own the garden - God does, for He is its designer & creator. As God places Adam is in its midst, Adam becomes a steward – Eden’s caretaker & developer. Genesis repeatedly emphasizes... God planted the garden. God made everything to grow. God owns everything. Adam manages what belongs to God This is the pattern in Scripture - God is the Creator & Master of His creation...Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Jesus later develops this truth in His parables of the talents. Christians never truly own anything for we manage God's resources. This includes...• time • money • abilities • influence • careers• possessions 4. Work Has Both Productive & Protective Responsibilities The two commands in Genesis 2 are instructive for us... Work it - ābad Adam is to cultivate & develop what God made. Every aspect of God’s creation has tremendous potential & it is our labor that helps unfold that potential. Examples include...• farming • engineering • medicine • teaching • business • parenting Good work by humanity develops God's world to be a place of flourishing. · "Keep it" - šāmar Not only is Adam to work what God made, but he must guard what has been entrusted to him, which includes preserving God's order. Sadly, Adam later fails to guard the garden when the serpent enters & he stands by as Eve speaks with him. Instead of protecting his wife, he passively allows deception to come upon Eve & does not stand up against the lies of the enemy. His failure to "keep" the garden in that instance leads to the Fall. Christian work is not only about creating, but It is about protecting what is good by our standing as faithful watchman of all that is true. 5. Work Is to be Seen & Done as Worship The Hebrew word ābad often means both...to work...to serve, but it can also mean "worship". The Old Testament uses the same word for serving God at times in worship. This idea is purposeful, not accidental. The Bible does not separate work from worship. As believers work faithfully for God, our work becomes an act & expression of faithful worshipful service to Him. We see the depth of this in... Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Christ-followers work hard because Christ is our Master, so we work heartily & honestly because we know Christ is near & sees not only our heart in work, but our effort in it. We don’t take shortcuts, or a path of deception or dishonesty, as our work belongs to Christ. We work from the soul in loving Him. Christ will transform our ordinary work into worship where Monday morning work is an extension of Sunday worship. 6. Work Is Done Under God's Authority God determines... (1) Where Adam works (2) What Adam does (3) How Adam works Adam doesn't invent his own purpose, He receives it from the Lord. Likewise, Christians seek God's purposes rather than personal ambition. Our careers are not ultimately self-directed by us, but they are callings & rest in the leadership of God. 7. Work Is Good Before the Fall This is an important theological observation, as we see the process that Genesis 2 comes before Genesis 3. Therefore, work is good, holy, dignified, purposely, at times exhausting & glorifies God. The Fall does not create work for Adam, but it does do this, it makes word harder by bringing in sweat, frustration, thorns & exhaustion. Even though the curse affected work, it was not to move us to just see work as something connected to the curse, for we are to still see work as good. Genesis 3:17-19 teaches that the curse affects work, not its goodness.

Doak Taylor

Lead Pastor and Elder