Genesis 2:7–15 ‘The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’ (v15)
In the book of Genesis, we are given a wonderful vision of God creating everything that we know. He makes the moon, the mountains, the seas, the animals, the birds, the fish.
God imagines a world of diversity and beauty and creates it out of love and for love. The highpoint of creation is the formation of Adam and Eve, the first two people whom God loved.
It is interesting to note that there are two creation stories in Genesis. In Genesis 1, Adam is given dominion over the world. He is told to crush it, and hold it in its place.
This account speaks of power, control, and overcoming the wildness of creation. But in the second account of creation we find a different, gentler story.
In Genesis 2, God places Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and to take care of it. It’s a beautiful command: to care and tend for the earth.
There is something very important here. God creates the world out of love and asks humans to care for it. Human beings are called to care for the world and to care for one another. Caring and being cared for is built into the fabric of creation.
If you are someone who has come to a time in your life when you need to receive care, there is no shame in that. God has created us to receive care.
It’s what humans do. You do not lose your dignity, your worth, or your personhood. You simply come to notice an aspect of what it means to be human that we sometimes overlook. Rejoice in caring and rejoice in being cared for.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Lord, help me to care more deeply and to accept the care that others offer to me with gratitude and wonder. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Give someone a call today and tell them that you care for them. Help them to feel loved.
Scripture To Consider:
Deut. 5:12; John 13:3–15; Phil. 2:1–4; 1 John 4:7– 12
