Rediscovering God’s Design for Work This Labor Day

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In the beginning…

God worked.

He created the universe and all that it contains. For six days, the Lord spoke something different into being. He gathered dirt and formed a man in the very image of Himself. He fashioned each part of creation to harmoniously fit together for an eternal purpose.

And then He rested. 

He was finished with His creative plan, but what did He have in mind for people?

What was God’s design for work? 

The Origin of Work on Earth

Before Eve was formed from Adam’s rib, his first task was to name the animals. When no match for Adam was found, the Lord presented a woman to the man. 

Their Father Creator came to visit the couple each day. The three of them walked through the beautiful and fragrant garden and had a little chat. He instructed them on how to care for their home. Even though animals weren’t fierce, and weeds didn’t grow, they still had a job to do.

The Almighty gave them an assignment. Take dominion over the fish, the birds, and the animals. They were to populate the earth and rule over the planet. 

And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28 NIV)

He put a man and woman created in His image in the garden He provided for them. They had no unwelcome plants to pull, no devouring insects to eliminate from their food source, or angry bosses to deal with. So, what did they do all day?

Work was originally designed to stimulate thought and physical creativity. Nothing was a burden. Even without weeds and biting bugs to deal with, the couple was told to take care of the garden. The land needed to be tilled so more plants could grow (Genesis 2:5b). Maybe part of their job was to communicate with the animals. After all, Eve talked to a snake later, and she didn’t think it strange that the creature spoke to her. 

The Way Work Changed

It doesn’t seem that the devil waited too long to start the temptation process. Once the couple gave in to their desires, caring for their home was no longer constructive; it became an exhausting grind.

Adam had to scrape vegetation out of the hard, unforgiving ground with exertion and sweat.

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. (Genesis 3:19)

Eve travailed to bring children into the world (Genesis 3:16).

Another factor introduced through disobedience was fear (Genesis 3:10). Fear produces stress that gnaws at our minds and bodies. Anxiety feeds us with shame and guilt. Our emotions attempt to correct these maladies, but the human soul doesn’t have the resources to overcome the rebellion against God that started the sin disease. 

Violence and corruption reigned (Genesis 6:11-12). 

The Creator never intended for mankind to make its own rules. He had to show people that sin had consequences.  

Religious Work

God chose a man named Abraham to bring redemption to the earth. Through this man’s descendants, God would send a Savior. But before that Savior arrived, those descendants would be enslaved in a pagan land and be subjected to hard labor. 

Hundreds of years later, Jehovah set them free and instituted the Law as given to Moses on Mount Sinai in the wilderness. This Law demanded effort to obtain divine approval. They had to do right, be right, and bring sacrifices for when they weren’t right. Offerings were given from the resources the Lord provided to them. The priests killed animals for these sacrifices and offerings hour by hour and day by day.

For centuries, these freed people gravitated between obedience and rebellion. They fell into idol worship and were again carried away in bondage to foreign kings. 

Religions exist all over the world, and their requirements for acceptance to whatever god they worship are through doing something. Struggling to please is never enough because there is always more that needs to be done. It never comes to an end because mankind can’t do enough to take away the fallen nature.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/mbolina 

Christ’s Work

A man named John dwelt in the Jordanian desert and called for people to repent. He proclaimed that the coming Messiah would provide humanity with the solution for sin. John preached, he baptized, he pointed to Jesus. 

Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)

Christ came to destroy the realm of the devil.

He came to give us an abundant life.

He came to quench spiritual thirst with living water.

He came to do the will of His Father. My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working. (John 5:17)

This kind of work introduced rest. Rest from striving to earn God’s love through doing something. Instead, it was Christ’s undertaking that fulfilled the requirements of the Mosaic law. 

He took upon Himself the consequences of disobedience enacted in the Garden of Eden.

His head was crowned with the thorns that sprang up from the cursed earth. 

His back was striped with the curse of sickness and death.

His hands and feet were pierced to pour out perfect blood that satisfied the wages of sin that separated us from the Father (Romans 6:23). 

The Believer’s Work

Jesus gave His disciples (which includes those of us who believe) a new commandment. Very simple, just love one another (John 13:34). This commandment fulfills all the Ten Commandments we can’t complete on our own. Jesus satisfied these for us, and our faith in Him transforms us into righteousness. 

Before Christ’s ascension, He gave the eleven remaining men in His company instructions on what to do. 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

The believer’s mission is to spread this good news. The first person to proclaim this truth was a woman, Mary Magdalene. The Lord told her to go and tell His disciples that He was risen. 

The Holy Spirit’s presence teaches us diligence and excellence in our earthly jobs as well as giving us the boldness to share the good news. Anything we do can reflect the Lord when we allow Him to control our thoughts and actions. 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23)

Our influence as believers can sometimes stir up controversy and persecution because to do so tramples the devil’s territory. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. (John 15:18)

But when we face this opposition, we need to remember that we are not alone. The Spirit within us is greater than the one that persecutes us (1 John 4:4). 

Christ’s Final Work

Jesus Christ completed the purpose He was born for by defeating sin, death, and hell. After His resurrection and spending forty days appearing to the disciples and others, He ascended to heaven and sat down on His throne. 

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3)

The final display of Christ’s accomplishment on the cross will be to destroy the anti-Christ and throw Satan into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). The earth will be made new and restored to pre-sin perfection. 

The Lord of all will sit on the throne of David (Isaiah 9:7) and rule the world from Jerusalem for 1,000 years. 

At the end of this time, we will face the judgment seat of Christ, where believers will be rewarded for faithfulness to the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/gpointstudio

Will We Work in Heaven?

Like we wondered what Adam and Eve did in the garden before they disobeyed, we may wonder what we will do in heaven.

Will we sit on a cloud and play a harp while we float through the sky?

God’s design doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). He had a plan for resourcefulness on earth with His first people, and He has a plan for all of us for eternity. The vastness of His domain, and our never-ending status of life can reveal our heavenly jobs.

Maybe when we carried out our earthly occupations such as preaching, teaching, building, writing, painting, or singing, those were preparation for what we will accomplish forever. Only this time it will be without fear, doubt, or obstruction. 

No one will need to be saved or healed, but the pure form of our earthly assignments can be to glorify the Lord in every facet of our beings. We can worship the Almighty with all the talents He gave us that can still exist in our immortal forms. Doctors can proclaim the healing power of Christ and show us what His scars mean to our redemption. Law enforcement can worship the King of kings for His righteous rule. Singers can lead others in worshipful music. Everyone will have a task that will glorify the Sovereign Lord.

We will also judge angels (1 Corinthians 6). This may mean we will be part of Christ’s rule that will judge the fallen angels and demons that tormented the earth since the beginning of time. Won’t that be great to see these evil minions get what they deserve?

We can see what the twenty-four elders will do.

The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: You are worthy, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. (Revelation 4:10-11)

Not only these elders, but every person who ever lived will kneel before the King (Philippians 2:10-11).

Rediscover God’s Design for Work as You Celebrate Labor Day

This year, recognize Labor Day with a new mindset that reflects the spiritual work Christ has done in your life if you are a believer. And if you aren’t, take this moment to allow Him to cleanse your heart and make you one of God’s children. 

Remember that everything we do on this earth has an eternal benefit when it is done in faith and obedience to the commands of our Lord. 

This life is more than just the physical endeavors we produce. There are eternal consequences and rewards. 

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)

When Christ is Lord of our lives, everything we do can bring us joy. Rest in Him and cast off your burdens.

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Photo Credit: ©Getty/WestEnd61 

Barbara Latta’s hunger for the Word of God drives her to search the Scriptures for truth instead of tradition. She loves researching the meaning of words and biblical culture for a deeper understanding of the Bible and the love of our Savior. She has earned a one-year certificate from Charis Bible College in Colorado and completed the Power Speaking Course through the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. 

Her book, Redemption, the Heartbeat of Christmas: What the Birth of Christ Means to the World, was released in October 2025. She loves coffee, a good book, and gardening, which would be more fun if not for the weeds. Barbara and her husband enjoy life with two sons, one daughter-in-love, and an energetic granddaughter who keeps these retired people on their toes.

She writes about living in our identity in Christ at https://barbaralatta.blogspot.com/. You can follow Barbara on Facebook: Barbara Latta, author; X @barbaralatta; and Instagram blatta2.