Page 4 - January 2026 - Truth & Tidings

od is a worker. He worked for six the animals, Adam also claimed respon-
days to create the world and then sibility for them, since naming (or re-
Gcontentedly rested on the seventh naming) in Scripture signifies authority
day, delighting in a complete and perfect (17:5,15; 32:28). Thus dominion includes
work. Although the initial creation work is classification, organization and domesti-
complete, God has continued to work on cation of the animals. It implies cultivating
other projects, including the conservation the ground, extracting resources, creating
and redemption of the cosmos (Col 1:17; tools, establishing processes and creating
efficiencies.
Heb 1:3). The Lord Jesus said, “My Father
is working until now, and I am working” In Genesis 2, God ordained agriculture:
(Joh 5:17). In praying to His Father, the He expected man to cultivate the ground,
1
Son further stated, “I glorified you on and to work and keep the garden (2:15).
To cultivate means to foster growth and to
earth, having accomplished the work that improve. To keep means to preserve from
you gave me to do” (17:4). failure or decline. Although food was
Since God works, work is part of His plentiful, Adam was granted the pleasure
character; since God is good, work is good not only of maintaining the garden but
(Psa 25:8; Eph 4:28). Before He even cre- of arranging it for order and beauty. As a
ated Adam, God said that He made man taxonomist, Adam was the first scientist;
for work: “Then God said, ‘Let us make as an arranger, he was the first artist. His
man in our image, after our likeness. And work involved creativity, originality,
let them have dominion over the fish of the beauty, quality and benefit. And God gave
sea and over the birds of the heavens and Eve to Adam to help him with all of this;
over the livestock and over all the earth there would now be a committee to plan
and over every creeping thing’” (Gen things and a team to carry them out (2:18).
1:26). God expects His people to work as But what is work? In physics, work is
He did: “Six days you shall labor, and do applying force over a distance. So work
all your work” (Exo 20:9). He gave work gets things done. But work is much more
as a gift. When we work, we demonstrate than the mechanics. Work is engaging in
the likeness we bear to God, the model mental and physical activity in order to
Worker, and please Him. achieve a desired result. The worker sets
Dominion requires work – taking re- up and carries out the tasks needed to
sponsibility for the creation and carrying create a product. And once he has success-
out the tasks needed to administer it. To fully conceived, organized, executed and
subdue the earth means to exert control finished his creation, work compensates
and discipline. God brought the animals the worker. Its best compensations are not
and birds to Adam to see what names he financial; work rewards the worker with
would assign to them (Gen 2:19). Since satisfaction, fulfillment and purpose – and
names have meaning in Scripture, Adam for the Christian, the knowledge that he
had to size up each animal and perceive its has glorified God – whether or not he
unique abilities and purpose. By naming receives a paycheck. Good work brings
pleasure, and a job well done yields sat-
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the isfaction that is worth more than wages.
ESV. Good work is its own reward.

4 TRUTH kTidings January 2026