BY DOUG BATCHELOR
“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)
Do you enjoy working outside? Some people love being occupied in the yard, mowing the lawn, trimming trees, and helping with the flowerbeds. It can be invigorating to be in the fresh air and put your hands and mind to a task. It feels good to finish stacking up a cord of firewood or painting a fence.
Did you know that before sin broke up our planet, God created Adam to work outside? You might think that in a perfect world, people would lounge around all day on Adirondack chairs sipping lemonade. But from the start, it was the Creator’s plan that humans work in the outdoors. The home of our first parents was not a palace, but a garden.
Genesis 2:15 says God put Adam in the garden of Eden “to tend and keep it.” The KJV uses the words “to dress it up and keep it.” What does this mean? Adam was required to use physical labor to keep the garden in a beautiful state. Yes—thorns later came and made his job more difficult. But work was originally to be a blessing—and it still can be.
Some Bible commentators say that “to keep” in Hebrew can also mean to guard, watch, or preserve. Adam certainly didn’t need to worry about wild animals tearing his vegetable garden to pieces. But being occupied with maintaining his garden home did help protect him from an intruder who came guised as a serpent.
Adam’s responsibility shows us that a godly character comes through honest labor. We build both muscle and morals when we roll up our sleeves and toil out in nature. Do you hear your garden calling to you?
Heavenly Father, thank you for creating the outdoors in which to labor and enjoy the work of my hands.