And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. — Genesis 2:15
Verse 15 gives us the plan for man in the garden. Adam was placed there “to dress it and to keep it.”
To dress the garden means to cultivate it, tend it, and care for it. To keep it carries the idea of guarding, protecting, and watching over it.
Adam was given stewardship. He had responsibility. He had a task.
This again reminds us that work was not part of the curse. Work was part of life in Eden. After the fall, work became more difficult. Genesis 3 uses the word “sweat” and shows the hardship of labour in a fallen world. But before sin entered, Adam still had work to do.
God did not create Adam to be idle. He placed him in the garden with purpose.
After God had formed Adam, he put him in the garden. All boasting was thereby shut out. Only he that made us can make us happy; he that is the Former of our bodies, and the Father of our spirits, and none but he, can fully provide for the happiness of both. Even in paradise itself man had to work. None of us were sent into the world to be idle. He that made our souls and bodies, has given us something to work with; and he that gave us this earth for our habitation, has made us
something to work upon. The sons and heirs of heaven, while in this world, have something to do about this earth, which must have its share of their time and thoughts; and if they do it with an eye to God, they as truly serve him in it, as when they are upon their knees. Observe that the husbandman's calling is an ancient and honourable calling; it was needful even in paradise. Also, there is true pleasure in the business God calls us to, and employs us in. Adam could not have been happy if he
had been idle: it is still God's law, He that will not work has no right to eat, .
Verse 15 gives us the plan for man in the garden. Adam was placed there “to dress it and to keep it.”
To dress the garden means to cultivate it, tend it, and care for it. To keep it carries the idea of guarding, protecting, and watching over it.
Adam was given stewardship. He had responsibility. He had a task.
This again reminds us that work was not part of the curse. Work was part of life in Eden. After the fall, work became more difficult. Genesis 3 uses the word “sweat” and shows the hardship of labour in a fallen world. But before sin entered, Adam still had work to do.
God did not create Adam to be idle. He placed him in the garden with purpose.
After God had formed Adam, he put him in the garden. All boasting was thereby shut out. Only he that made us can make us happy; he that is the Former of our bodies, and the Father of our spirits, and none but he, can fully provide for the happiness of both. Even in paradise itself man had to work. None of us were sent into the world to be idle. He that made our souls and bodies, has given us something to work with; and he that gave us this earth for our habitation, has made us
something to work upon. The sons and heirs of heaven, while in this world, have something to do about this earth, which must have its share of their time and thoughts; and if they do it with an eye to God, they as truly serve him in it, as when they are upon their knees. Observe that the husbandman's calling is an ancient and honourable calling; it was needful even in paradise. Also, there is true pleasure in the business God calls us to, and employs us in. Adam could not have been happy if he
had been idle: it is still God's law, He that will not work has no right to eat, .