If there was ever a work in the physical universe worth marveling over, it isn’t one of the so-called Seven Wonders of the World, it is the creation of the world, itself. As the Bible teaches us over and over in Genesis 1, God was pleased with His work.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
-Genesis 1:31a

We have a God who values action, demonstrated by His work in creation. He found pleasure in good work and decided to share it with His creatures. When there was work to be done on Earth, God created man to do it so that he, too, might enjoy the blessing of work.

When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
-Genesis 2:5-7

When God created man, He said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26), which implies He created man as doers and workers. At the very outset, God’s intention was to put man to work.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
-Genesis 2:15

Later on, God also created Eve to help Adam out. They became a team meant to divide and conquer whatever work needed to be done at the time – this is the essence of marriage, according to the Bible, along with child-rearing, of course (if only every marriage was based on such expectations – sigh…).

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
-Genesis 2:24

Eve was a blessing to Adam because there was always work to do. As a team, they were designed to do things which brought glory to God. They weren’t reading romance novels wondering how their spouse was going to woo them. Unlike most married couples today they weren’t disenchanted with the basics of life, such as working towards a common goal. Too many marriages suffer horrifically because failed expectations lead to disappointment. The old adage, “marriage is work”, shouldn’t be limited to the scope of relationship challenges only, it ought to personify the relationship, itself.

Arguably the most interesting thing about the statement in Genesis 2:15 is that God put Adam to work before the Fall in the Garden. I think it’s easy for us to hyperfocus on the curse placed on Adam after the Fall and mischaracterize work as bad (work is intrinsically good, it’s man’s fallen nature that ruins it for him).

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
-Genesis 3:17-19

It’s easy to mistake work after the Fall as man’s first touchpoint with it, but that is definitely not the case at all. Work has always been a part of God’s plan for man; the only difference is that after the Fall it became painful while remaining necessary. Of course, we all can relate to this form of suffering even today. Who can truly say that there isn’t always some form of pain associated with working, even if it is truly done “heartily, as for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23)?

We mustn’t think, though, that just because work is painful it is somehow bad. Work is good. After all, a good work ethic is something God values in Himself, even. If it’s good, then it is righteous. If it is righteous, then there’s a certain peace that flows from it (ala “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” – Hebrews 12:11). Jesus, for example, certainly understood the value of good work.

If you look at the Son of God’s life during His incarnation on Earth, He was anything but complacent. He was always looking to do the work of His Father in Heaven, typified by the words, “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10). Even when that work was so difficult that you and I could never understand it – Jesus’ Cross is indescribable – He pursued it wholeheartedly “for the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2).

If you wish to share in the peace the Lord has promised us (John 14:27), then you must pursue righteousness. Over time we are sanctified unto righteousness, experientially. Part of this sanctification is shedding any false preconceptions we’ve garnered from the world system of thinking about fundamentals, such as work. You see, work gets a bad reputation and is often scoffed at and viewed as some kind of existential enemy. In truth, it’s the exact opposite. To have work is to be blessed; not just because you’re able to put food on the table, but because you are acting more like God – you are a “doer”.

The Lord rewards doers with peace. If you ever want to meet a miserable person, find someone who defies this basic principle, who is unwilling to work, or habitually seeks to minimize their labor while still eking by in life. Paul wrote adamantly about the pursuit of idleness.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command:

If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
-2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to “imitate” the righteousness they saw in him and his disciples. Why? For their own good, of course. His harsh language - “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” - isn’t about public shame; it’s about blessing. Paul encouraged the church to imitate his hard labor (1 Corinthians 15:10) so they, too, might be blessed with peace. This is a common theme throughout the Bible.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
-James 1:22

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
-Matthew 7:21

According to Holy Scripture, work is intrinsic to God – it’s part of who He is, in fact – God is a doer, a worker, by nature. His creative work is all around us and according to His Word, God sees His work as “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Isn’t it a tragedy that fallen creatures (whom He created in His image) are predisposed to laziness and yet still cry out for more peace? Isn’t it interesting that all three members of the Trinity are constantly working and yet man clings to a sense of entitlement?

One of the greatest causes of persistent misery in this world is that most people, Christians included, are on a quest to work less while expecting more blessings (for example, more peace). Therein lies the fundamental lie peddled by the kingdom of darkness. Peace is not found at the feet of idleness; rather it is found through work. The Bible points to this very truth over and over again. When people work righteously, they are blessed. When they become idle, bad things happen (David comes to mind regarding Bathsheba).

Find good work to do while here on Earth and you shall find peace and contentment. And be grateful for said work!

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
-Colossians 3:17

You may be pondering specifics in your own life. For example, what does it mean to “find good work”? Does said work imply a paycheck? Often, but not necessarily.

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
-Luke 6:38

Who can put a price tag on the labor of a good mother, a kind or encouraging word, a visit to a friend in need, a helping hand at church, or even really difficult activities to quantify, such as persistent discipline in the home? These are just a few behaviors classified as good work. None of them have a monetary return on investment. So, when you’re contemplating “good work”, consider your productivity through the lens of Holy Scripture – do not put a price tag on it.

Whatever you do, work hard. Be industrious! There’s certainly no lack of opportunity in the world for good work, only a lack of interest in finding and doing it, sadly (to the detriment of those avoiding it). We have a perfect example in the Trinity, each Person working tirelessly for all of eternity. In fact, the Holy Spirit is working in you right now through this blog! Just finishing this blog is a form of good labor for sure. Enjoy the blessing…see how this works???

Work is something we have in common with God. No one has more peace than God. God is working always. Need I say more than simply, “Just connect the dots”?

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins