Lessons From Eden - Work, Rest and Love

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. The LORD God said, ‘it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’”
Genesis 2:2, 15 and 18

We can learn some important lessons about living balanced lives in the Garden of Eden. Have you ever paid attention to the ages of people in the Bible? Adam was 930 years old when he died. Sarah had a baby when she was ninety. Scripture tells us Noah lived 350 years after the flood and that he was 950 when he died - that means he was like in his 500’s when he was building the ark. God made us for certain things and we need those things to live healthy, balanced and long lives. 

WORK
We need to work. Our bodies and minds were designed to work. We need to be involved in doing something in order to live healthy and balanced lives. Work is more than what we do to make an income it is part of our purpose. Adam and Eve were tasked with caring for the garden.  

REST
In the good old days, people woke up at sunrise and went to bed at sunset. Since they had worked hard all day they slept well. God set the example for mankind - work six days and then take a day of rest. Jesus took time out to rest and he made his disciples rest too. 

LOVE
God created a mate for everything creature that breathed and moved. He is a God of relationship. We must not live life alone. It was not good that the man was alone so God made him and helper - then the man had a community to live in, a community of himself, Eve and God.

This week stay busy - no matter what stage of life you find yourself in find some kind of “work” to do and work hard enough to get a good night’s rest. Be sure to take one day a week off, rest and do something fun. Remember you were made for relationship so as you work and rest make time to enjoy family, friends and God. Working, resting and loving will allow you to live the abundant life God intends for you. 

A Prayer
Father, thank you for the lessons we can learn from Eden. Thank you for the things you have for us to do. Thank you for the relationships we have with one another and You. Help us to rest, because we struggle with this. Thank you for the abundant life you have provided for us by your creation and through your Son in whose name we pray, Amen.