Stewarding
Saturday’s Verse:
From Genesis 2:15 ESV
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
One thing I love about this verse from Genesis 2 is how simple it is. There is no sin yet to muddy the waters. There is no toil yet to make work seem like a punishment. Before anything else God tells humanity what their purpose is: to take care of what He created. Work is not something you go to because you broke stuff. It’s part of your identity as a human made by God.
As Lutherans, this should remind us that our jobs, whatever they might be, are important. Cleaning up your house? That’s taking care of what God has given you. Working a job? Taking care of what God has given you. Raising kids? Taking care of what God has given you. Tending the environment? You guessed it. Work itself isn’t secular. God has placed you somewhere and has said, in essence, “Take care of this.”
And yet, stewardship is not ownership. Adam did not “own” the garden. It was God’s. Everything is His. The earth we live on, the opportunities we receive, and even the talents we use to work with were given to us by God. We are stewards.
I think realizing that we do not own this world around us should impact how we treat it. It should lead us to ask questions like “Am I using my time wisely?” Or “Am I taking care of what I’ve been given or abusing it?” “Am I only thinking about myself?” How we answer those questions determines how well we steward.
Yet, this verse also reminds us of grace. We are not perfect stewards. Far from it. We waste food. We forget about things. We degrade our world and the people around us. The beauty of Christ and what he did for us is that He doesn’t just redeem our souls. He redeems our lives. He can take our meaningless efforts and turn them into acts of worship.
So no matter what your “garden” is, look at it with purpose. Do your jobs to the best of your ability. Care for Creation. Love your neighbors with what you’ve been stewarded.
Not to try and earn God’s favor, because Christ has secured that for us. But because He has already GIVEN us everything.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord, You have made me and placed me here for a reason. Help me to steward what You have given me. Teach me to work for You faithfully, with wisdom, and a glad heart. And when I fail, forgive me and continue to direct me in how to be a good steward of Your creation. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
The photo above is licensed through Unsplash+