In my first article, I emphasized that God placed humanity in the garden with the purpose to work and keep it (Gen 2:15). So, my argument was quite simple: God created us with the purpose to work. Therefore, work is good and should be pursued for His glory. But if God made us to work, then why are we so often frustrated with it?

First, we read in Genesis 3:17-19:  “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.”

With this text, we learn that because of Adam’s rebellion, God cursed the ground. In doing so, creation itself impedes our efforts to accomplish what we have been created to do!  Work now is difficult; you might say frustrating!  The vegetation God created for humanity to eat from is now being choked out by thorns and thistles!  For Adam to “eat bread,” he will have to battle the weeds. Paul will expand this to “the whole creation...groaning” (Rom 8:22). It is not merely thorns and thistles, but diseases, extreme weather, infestations and much more. All of which has made work more frustrating. Many vocations solely exist to push against the effects of the curse. Would there be any place for surgeons, counsellors, or police officers if Adam had not rebelled? So many occupations are simply seeking to slow down the effect of decay so that we might cultivate life!

I recall my high school summer employment, working for local farmers. Much of my time was spent combating the effects of drought or the spread of weeds; both effects of Adam’s sin. In my current role as pastor, so much of my work continues to be combating the effects of sin. The harvest the pastor seeks is presenting everyone mature in Christ (Col 1:28). But because of sin in every Christian’s life, we must continually warn, teach, and pray that our people become mature. Paul describes this work as toil and a struggle (Col 1:29). 

But the cursed ground is not our only problem. Adam’s rebellion has led to the spread of sin to all people. Paul tells us in Romans that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). We have inherited Adam’s sin nature! Romans 5:12 reads, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” Since man has now inherited Adam’s sin nature, this also frustrates our efforts to work. 

In Genesis 11, we have the story of the Tower of Babel. The people of that day did a great work; they were close to accomplishing a great feat, a tower “with its top into the heavens” (Gen 11:4). I do not think that the problem was the height of the tower, but rather the purpose of building the tower. These men had selfish ambitions; they wanted to “make a name for” themselves (Gen 11:4). But instead of accomplishing this feat, they brought upon themselves confusion. Sin does this all the time. 

Remember, from my last article, work is meant for the glory of God and the good of others. We were created to cultivate our environments so that life can flourish. Today, however, much of our “work” is for selfish ends rather than the good of others. This does not lead to human flourishing but rather to the opposite. How many politicians have you encountered who are merely working to pad their wallets and/or increase their fame? This is in direct violation of their callings; instead of “serving” their constituents, they are fleecing them. And each of these sins has compounding effects that frustrate the lives of others and result in decay, confusion, even death. It’s not simply politicians who are guilty of such selfish behaviour. We could add almost any occupation to this list.

Added to selfishness is a myriad of sins that compound the problem. For example, Proverbs 19:15 reads, “slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger”.  We have all met a lazy parent, and far too often, behind that parent is a child who suffers. 

Finally, we must contend with the seeming pointlessness of our work. Ecclesiastes comments on this: “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity” (Ecc 2:18).

Many years ago, I was serving at a nursing home, and I was struck by the words of one patient. She was deeply bothered by the people who had bought her home; the flower garden out front was no longer being kept up. This lady, nearing the end of life, was devastated. And I just remember walking away with sadness. Was this her life's work? A flower garden? If so, how empty! How pointless.

Is there hope? I believe so! My final article will reflect on how the Gospel transforms our work. Stay tuned.