The Work of Our Hands
Genesis 2:15 (NIV)
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV)
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
From the very beginning, work has been part of God’s good design. In the garden, Adam’s hands touched the soil, tending and nurturing life. Work wasn’t meant to grind us down but to lift us up—a calling to partner with the Creator in caring for the world.
In the early 20th century, George Washington Carver exemplified this truth. A scientist and educator, he saw work not as drudgery but as discovery. Carver believed God had placed answers to human needs in the natural world, and through tireless research, he unlocked the potential of peanuts and sweet potatoes, transforming agriculture and livelihoods. For Carver, work was a joy, a way to do good, and a gift that pointed back to the Giver.
Ecclesiastes reminds us that work and its fruits—whether a meal shared with loved ones or the satisfaction of a task completed—are divine gifts. The joy of meaningful labor is not a reward we earn but an offering from God, inviting us to live fully in each moment. Even in the toil and repetition, there is purpose: a way to do good and to find contentment, not apart from God, but as a reflection of His provision.
Today, whatever your work may be—planting seeds, leading meetings, or making a home—let it echo with gratitude. Look for the moments where joy and meaning intersect with effort. In those places, you’ll find the fingerprints of God, reminding you that every task, no matter how small, carries the potential for worship.
Prayer:
Giver of all good things, thank You for the gift of work and the satisfaction it brings. Help us to see Your hand in the rhythm of our days and to find joy and meaning in the work we do. May all we do honor You. Amen.
Written by Chuck Warnock and read by Jim Stovall.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.
First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
