Reflection: Our working is cursed. The delightful unity of working in the garden quickly changes as evil enters the garden. The serpent tempts the woman, who hands the forbidden fruit to the man and all three blame each other and are cursed. This is where our cultural and spiritual understanding of work usually begins … not with the good of work, but with the idea that work is a curse. However, a careful reading reveals that work itself is not cursed, but the process of working. It
is going to be harder (“by the sweat of your brow”) and less productive (“it will produce thorns and thistles for you”). We all recognised this as the reality of much of our working, which can be more difficult and frustrating than it needs to be. However, we must remember that work is still a good gift from God.
Questions: What are some of the current frustrations and difficulties of your work which you can share with God?
Prayer: Oh Lord, We are conscious of all the pain and struggles of work and working relationships. Help us to remember that this is not the way work was meant to be in your good plan, and that in the future we will again fully enjoy the work of our hands. Amen.
We’re reading the Bible until June 2nd with Kara Martin, author of Workship: How to use your work to worship God.