Sometimes the drudgery of work can dull our senses to the goodness of the work. When God created Adam and Eve and gave them a job to do, he declared it very good (Gen. 1:31). Of course, we don’t live in the perfection of Eden any longer, so we have lost some sense of that goodness and wonder. But we are still image bearers of God; we still experience work as humans who are created in his likeness.
On the sixth day, God looked at all his hands had made and declared it good. He was pleased with his work. In the same way, he has created us to create and cultivate within the world that he has made. He has given us materials, gifts, opportunity, and interests meant to make beauty and life out of nothing (Ps. 104:14–15). We should find joy in these things. While sin has marred our ability to do this perfectly or to always work for his glory, his common grace allows us to yet enjoy the work that we do. When we survey the beauty of his creation, the abilities he has given us, and the fruit of our labors, praise should come forth from our mouths (Ps. 104:24, 33)! We enjoy the Giver of all good things by enjoying our work.
Consider the work of the home for a moment. Maybe the taste of a good meal comes to mind, or the beauty of a spring garden. Perhaps you are thankful for the friendships cultivated through welcoming people into your home, or a family game night, or even from vacuum lines on your carpet! In all of these things, we are given glimpses of the enjoyment in our work. This is a gift to us, meant to propel us to look at our heavenly Father and his love for us, and his enjoyment over the work of his own hands. God allows us to delight in the things he has given us, even as we walk through this broken world. Let’s enjoy and be glad.
Courtney Reissig is a writer living in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is the author of Glory in the Ordinary: Why Your Work in the Home Matters to God. Learn more at CourtneyReissig.com or on Twitter at @courtneyreissig.
