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The Psalmist writes, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 ESV
I believe in scripture. I believe God created the universe in seven days, but why didn’t He bypass Monday on His celestial calendar and go directly from Sunday to Tuesday?
Genesis tells us that God created the universe in six days and then He rested on the seventh day. And it was good! From creation, there must be a “rest” gene in our biorhythms – but after the Fall, that means rest on Sunday and then back to toil and labor on Monday. UUUUGGGHHG!
It wasn’t always this way.
At first, humans, created for work, rested in the Garden of Eden, then got up on Monday eager to do the work that God had assigned. Perfect gifting, perfect time allocation, perfect work ethic, perfect goals and strategy, and perfect talents for the job – everything to make work perfect and fulfilling.
God said, “Be fruitful and multiply. The earth is a blank canvas – change, grow, and develop the world in my strength and according to my will” (Genesis 1:28-31 OGV).
Pre-sin, who wouldn’t want to get up on Monday? Post-sin, staying in bed is the best option.
Pre-sin, never getting tired. Post-sin, tired all the time. Pre-sin, talking with God directly about the wisdom, strength, and resources for daily tasks. Post-sin, forgetting to pray and working with nincompoop bosses. Pre-sin, worship, angels, and perfect ecological balance. Post-sin, doubt, someone cutting you off in traffic, and litter everywhere.
When we decided to do our own thing in the Garden of Eden – to define our work, our identity, and our morals according to our knowledge of good and evil – something happened, something changed.
God said to Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:17 ESV). Pre-sin equals the Garden of Eden. Post-sin equals our work and world today.
The “pre” and the “post” of work doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t work hard. The Apostle Paul writes to the Colossians:
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
Paul writes another post-sin exhortation about work:
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ESV
Work, though deranged by sin, is still our calling.
The daily grind that is repentant, finding God, and rearranges life to serve Jesus, redeems work. We get excited about going to work, even in mundane ways, because we see the big picture of serving God in what we do nine to five.
God returns to our workplace whether in a downtown office or a post-COVID workspace at home.
Suddenly, we find meaning. We still live post-sin and our toil is difficult. But Monday now becomes an opportunity to serve Him again. The beginning of a new week. What challenges, what blessings, what difficulties, and what miracles?
You are reading this on Monday. Watch and see what God will do this week!