The Problem with Work[ Genesis 3:1-19 ]

“Take This Job & Shove It”

~ Johnny Paycheck

You better not try to stand in my way, ‘cause I’m walking

out the door. Take this job and shove it.

I ain’t working here no more.

Work MattersHow the Gospel Connects

Faith & WorkSummer Series at New City Church

The Problem with Work[ Genesis 3:1-19 ]

“The Four-Chapter Gospel”

Creation The Fall Redemption Restoration

1 2 3 4

Our calling to work was built-infrom the beginning—before the Fall.

“The Four-Chapter Gospel”

Creation The Fall Restoration

1 2 3 4

And then it all went wrong.

Redemption

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than

Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

any other beast of the field that the LordGod had made. He said to the woman,

of any tree in the garden?’” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We mayeat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,

“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat

3 “…but God said, ‘You shall not eat of thefruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you

surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good

die.’” 4 But the serpent said, “You will not

Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

“…and evil.” 6 So when the woman sawthat the tree was good for food, and thatit was a delight to the eyes, and that the

took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was withher, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both

tree was desired to make one wise, she

Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

…were opened, and they knew that theywere naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord

Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

…God among the trees of the garden. 9But the Lord God called to the man andsaid to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he

den, and I was afraid because I was na-ked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Whotold you that you were naked? Have you

said, “I heard the sound of you in the gar-

Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

…eaten from the tree of which I com-manded you not to eat?” 12 Then the man said, “The woman whom you gave

tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you havedone? The woman said, “The serpent

to be with me, she gave me fruit of the

Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

…deceived me, and I ate….”

Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

17 And to Adam he said, “Because youlistened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I com-

cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your

manded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’

forth for you; and you shall eat the plantsof the field. 19 By the sweat of your faceyou shall eat bread, till you return to the

you are dust, and to dust you shall return.ground, for out of it you were taken; for

Genesis 3:1-13, 17-19

life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring

1The problem with workis the curse on work.

shalom

“Ultimately, the only human beings we know

are people who have been created to please

God and build shalom but who, to a greater or lesser degree, mysteriously live against the purpose of

their existence.”

shalom

curse

Life this side of the Fall is cursed.

Nothing is the way itssupposed to be.

Because of the nature of God’s creation, we need work for our happiness. And because of God’s

intentions for our work—to contribute to the

flourishing of the world—we have glimpses of what

we could accomplish.

But because of the fall of the human race, our

work is profoundly frustrating, never as

fruitful as we want, and often a complete failure.

2The problem with workis the futility of work.

“Then I considered all that my hands had done

and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving

after the wind, and there was nothing to be

gained under the sun.”

~ Ecclesiastes 2:11

“What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?

For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a

vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.”

~ Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

~ The Apostle Paul in Romans 8

“For the creation was subjected to futility…

[in] bondage to decay…the whole creation has

been groaning.”

“The universe is indifferent…so we create a fake world for ourselves, and we exist in that fake

world…a world that, in fact, means nothing at all, when you step back. It’s meaning-less. But it’s important that we create some sense of

meaning, because no perceptible meaning exists

for anybody.” ~ Woody Allen

There really is no good news about our work without the good news of the Gospel.

”~ Tom Nelson Work Matters

“

Though the bad news is that sin entered the world,

the good news is that Jesus Christ also entered the world.

Implication #1

Because of the Gospel, the curse does not have

the final word.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present

time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to

us. For the creation waits with eager longing of the revealing of the

sons of God. ~ The Apostle Paul in Romans 8

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in

hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and

obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ~ The Apostle Paul in

Romans 8

~ The Apostle Paul in Romans 8

And not only the creation, but we ourselves…groan

inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved.

“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”

~ Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Implication #2

Because of the Gospel, futility does not have

the final word.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be

steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the

Lord your labor is not in vain.”

~ The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over

a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

”~ Jesus of Nazareth

in Matthew 25:21

“

May you know the joy of your Master in your

work, knowing that your work offered to the

Lord is never in vain.