God's work Ps 8

            “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,”

(Psalm 8:3 ESV)

 Here is an idea that maybe you haven’t thought about when you come across these passages that describe God’s majestic work in creation.  Notice the word “work.”  Have you noticed that in the beginning God worked?  In our small group at Valley we are reading “Every Good Endeavor” – connecting your work to God’s work - by Tim Keller.  This week we discussed the creation account.  Consider these questions: “Why do you work”, or "why do you want to work?”

Well that is a lot to tackle in one blog, so let me start you on the path to answering these questions.  In the beginning there was work.  The bible begins with this idea of work at there very beginning. 

            “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.”

(Genesis 2:1-2 ESV)

So, in the beginning God worked.  Stay with me and connect the dots.  Not only did God work, he found delight in the work. 

            And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

(Genesis 1:31 ESV)

As we continue we find the account of Adam and Eve.  What was God’s plan for them?

            The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

(Genesis 2:15 ESV)

 So wait, in the beginning man worked also?  God’s plan always included human beings working.  It was part of God’s perfect design for human life, because we were made in God’s image, and part of His glory and happiness is that He works.

Do you every see work as a necessary evil or even punishment?  What we see in the Genesis account is that work was around before sin and the curse.  Work was part of the blessedness of the garden of God.  Work is as much a basic human need as food, rest, friendship.  When we feel and sense the affects of sin, remember, work was not the curse.  After sin, the curse put upon man is that work would also include toil.  It would now include frustration and be exhausting.  The forces of nature would work against our work.  But, it would still be part of our DNA.  It would still give us satisfaction.  It would still connect us to the image of God.

 And that is the connection I want to make to this verse.  When we read about God working and creating, remember how much pleasure he took in it.  This was God’s plan for us.  And when we create, work, design, we are reflecting the image of God.  Work is a gift from God, and like Him, we should find satisfaction in it and bring Him glory.