The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15 (NIV)
Father, I pray that you would reset this generation’s attitude towards work.
That we might see how in Jesus, curses are undone.
And that even before the coming of Jesus,
Even before the Fall,
Lord you showed us the correct attitude to have towards work:
An attitude of dependency on you, of fun and pastime,
Knowing that you truly provide what we need.
Lord, I pray that you reset out mindset towards work.
So that we don’t simply see it as a means to an end;
A means to being able to travel;
A means to paying bills;
A means to finding someone to marry;
Or a means of showing off and even oppressing people.
No! Don’t let our work be simply a means to a physical end or attainment.
Lord, that we would see work as a way of bringing you glory,
As a way of making a positive impact on this world,
Of helping our fellow humans and developing our societies,
And making a positive impact on generations to come.
Lord, let that be our attitude towards the jobs we have.
So, Father I pray that we would pick jobs, career paths and professions that please you.
As we are pleasing you, I pray that our work would also bring us joy,
That nothing would be done grudgingly or indifferently.
Let everything be done joyously
With the pride and the boast that comes from knowing you.
Lord, I pray that we would not look towards our parents’ attitudes towards work,
Achievements and attainments,
and what society says we should be doing at a particular age or stage in our lives.
Lord, no!
That we would look towards you.
You who clothes the lilies and feeds the ravens.
That we would know that you are our sustenance –
Not our work.
You are our provision, our provider and our giver –
Not our work.
But work is something that you gave us to partner with you in caring for this world;
In caring for our fellow living creatures of the earth.
Work is simply a pastime that you originally gave us to showcase the talents we have;
To show your own creativity that you have deposited in us
And your care-taking spirit that you have put in us.
Yes, Lord, remind us through our work that we are simple caretakers
Of what you have given us.
You are our provider.
You are our fridge.
You are our money.
Our work isn’t that.
Yes, Lord, make this evidently clear to us in this generation and in this time.
Thank you, Father.
Amen.
The Mark 8 Christian 