READING
“The Lord God planted a garden in Eden … and there he put the man whom he had formed … The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.”
Genesis 2.8, 15
|
|
REFLECTION
Hopelessness comes in many forms: the anguish of grief, loss, betrayal, the despair that this situation will never get better. Still, one of the quieter, more corrosive forms of hopelessness is the secret sense that the things we do day by day – the data entry, the three loads of washing, the e-mails – don’t really matter to God. And if they don’t matter, aren’t I just wasting my time?
But, as today’s reading shows us, work is a big part of what God created us to do. God’s work of creation in Genesis produces order, provides food, generates joy, creates beauty, gives people the opportunity to develop the potential of his creation, for his glory and the benefit of others. Similarly, our daily work is intended to imitate God’s in contributing to making our bit of the world more like the way God would like it to be. For God’s glory.
So, doing the washing creates order, prevents disease, brings joy to the wearers – and perhaps a greater measure of beauty – and liberates them to do whatever God has given them to do that day. And those are all things that are utterly in line with God’s purposes. Our work matters to God, even down to ensuring a dog gets fed. |
|
RESPONSE
Jot down some of the tasks you are going to do today. Who will benefit? How will it contribute to making your bit of the world a bit better?
Ask God for the wisdom and strength to do whatever you do in his way and to his glory. |
|
| Visit the Church of England website to find #EverydayFaith prayers to start and end your day and short prayers in midst of everyday life. |
|
|
|
Bible readings are taken from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
| Taken from Everyday Faith: Reflections and prayers to help you find and follow God in everyday life by Nick Shepherd, Mark Greene and Rachel Treweek, published by Church House Publishing and copyright © 2019 The Church of England. Includes stories kindly provided by the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC). All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
