The Story of Work - Fall
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Act II: The Fall
Act II: The Fall
I. The Temptation on the Job Site
I. The Temptation on the Job Site
A. The Presence of the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
A. The Presence of the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
Genesis 2:16–17 – “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Provides an opportunity to trust God's word.
The temptation to define good and evil independently of God’s authority.
The test of faithfulness in stewardship over creation.
“The tree in the midst of the garden was a symbol of divine authority. The command was not arbitrary but a call to trust and obey.” – Providence
B. The Deception of the Serpent
B. The Deception of the Serpent
Genesis 3:1–6 “1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
Doubting God’s goodness and provision.
The appeal to pride and self-sufficiency.
Desire for autonomy over submission to divine wisdom.
“Sin at its root is the desire to be autonomous, to rule ourselves rather than submit to the good rule of God.” – Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavor
C. The Decision made Adam and Eve
C. The Decision made Adam and Eve
Adam’s sin involved a failure in his work.
Called to exercise dominion over the other creatures, he instead permitted himself and Eve to be ruled by the crafty serpent.
Instead of declaring the Word of God to the creatures, Adam was tempted to deny God’s Word by a creature.
Adam follows Eve, Even follows creation.
First chance we see of Adam to take his God given role to lead in a godly manner, and we see him cave. 1 Timothy 2:14 “14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
It is true that, chronologically, Eve sinned before Adam. However, Adam is culpable. Romans 5:12 “12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
Eve fell into sin because of a deception; however, Adam was not deceived, which means he chose to sin. When Adam took the fruit from his wife, he knew full well what he was doing.
II. The Fall and Its Influence on Our Work
II. The Fall and Its Influence on Our Work
Sin distorts God's original design for humanity. The curse impacts both work and relationships.Genesis 3:16-19 demonstrates how sin alters human purpose. Genesis 3:16–19 “16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
A. Consequences of Sin: Thorns and Thistles
A. Consequences of Sin: Thorns and Thistles
Story of Stephanie bringing up Even when in labor. We could bring them up during some of the difficulty of work.
Work Becomes Painfully Frustrating
Thorns and Thistles in Our Labor Genesis 3:17-18 – “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee...”Ecclesiastes 2:11 – “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”
Work is Marked by Resistance and Opposition Ecclesiastes 4:4 – “Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.”Job 5:7 – “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.”
Dissatisfaction and Lack of Fulfillment Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”Colossians 3:23-24 – “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Work Requires Great Toil and Hardship
Sweat and Struggle in Labor Genesis 3:19 – “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground...”Romans 8:22 – “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
Difficult Relationships in the Workplace Romans 8:20-21 – “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”Luke 6:32 – “For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.”
3. Work Can Become an Idol
The Danger of Finding Identity in Work Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 – “For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.”Matthew 6:19-21 – “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
The Allure of Wealth and Prestige 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”Proverbs 23:4 – “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.”
“Because of the fall, work has become painful and frustrating, yet it still retains its dignity as part of God’s good creation.” – Leland Ryken, Redeeming the Time
B. The Corruption of Human Roles
B. The Corruption of Human Roles
Impact on Women
Designed as man's helper Genesis 2:18 “18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
Beautiful word - used of God at times in Scripture.
When God created male and female, he did not mean to glorify men and demean women.
Self-centered, bullying leadership was never God’s plan. Neither was self-centered resentment when called to help.
Now faces pain in childbirth and conflict in marriage. Genesis 3:16 “16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
Impact on Men
Created as God's co-worker (Genesis 2:15), but now experiences toil and hardship in work (Genesis 3:17-19).
Fragmentation of Relationships Due to Sin
With God – Work was meant to be an act of worship, but now it often becomes an idol or a burden.
With Others – Competition, exploitation, and injustice emerge in labor.
Within Ourselves – Identity crises in work, restlessness, and dissatisfaction.
With Work Itself – The temptation to define oneself by work or to reject work altogether.
C. Two Common Distortions in Attitude Toward Work
C. Two Common Distortions in Attitude Toward Work
The Avoidance of Work
Work is seen as a necessary evil, endured for the sake of leisure.
Lack of ambition, purpose, or service to others.
Leisure-driven lifestyle fueled by fear of failure or laziness.
The Idolization of Work
Work becomes a means of self-worth and identity.
Overwork driven by pride, competition, and personal achievement.
Neglect of rest, relationships, and God's intended balance.
Work was meant to glorify God (Genesis 2:15), but sin distorts it into a burden or an idol. Work is either rejected as a curse or worshiped as a savior
III. The Reason for the Curse: God's Judgment and Mercy
III. The Reason for the Curse: God's Judgment and Mercy
A. God’s Curse as a Deliberate Act
A. God’s Curse as a Deliberate Act
The fall brought automatic consequences (guilt, shame, alienation).
The curse itself (Genesis 3:14-19) was an additional judgment by God.
B. The Root of the Problem: Idolatry
B. The Root of the Problem: Idolatry
Work and Leisure as False Gods
Humanity’s sinful nature seeks fulfillment apart from God.
Work becomes about self-glory; rest becomes about self-indulgence.
God’s Response to Idolatry
God does not allow man to find ultimate joy in work or rest.
He frustrates both as a means to drive sinners to repentance.
C. The Emptiness of Work and Leisure Without God
C. The Emptiness of Work and Leisure Without God
Dissatisfaction in Work
Success does not bring true fulfillment.
Achievements feel hollow when pursued for self-glory.
Dissatisfaction in Leisure
Endless pleasure-seeking leads to diminishing returns.
The more one indulges, the less satisfying it becomes.
D. The Purpose of the Curse
D. The Purpose of the Curse
Not merely a punishment, but a means to expose the futility of life apart from God.
Drives humanity either toward repentance or eternal separation from God.
IV. They Were Driven from the Garden but Not Relieved of their Responsibility
IV. They Were Driven from the Garden but Not Relieved of their Responsibility
A. Work Remains a Matter of Stewardship
A. Work Remains a Matter of Stewardship
Genesis 2:15 – “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
Work as an act of care and intentionality.
Even outside Eden, humanity is called to cultivate and steward creation.
Faithfulness in small tasks mirrors obedience to God’s larger purposes.
Colossians 3:23–24 – “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
B. Work as an Imitation of God’s Creativity and Goodness
B. Work as an Imitation of God’s Creativity and Goodness
Bringing order and beauty through craftsmanship and service.
Producing a surplus that benefits others (economic and social impact).
Work as a means of participating in God’s redemptive plan.
Proverbs 22:29 – “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
“Work is not just a necessary evil; it is a way to imitate the Creator, bringing order out of chaos and serving others.” – Gene Edward Veith, God at Work
C. Navigating Work with Godly Wisdom
C. Navigating Work with Godly Wisdom
Seeking God's guidance in decisions.
Honoring ethical standards and treating others justly.
Avoiding idleness while also maintaining Sabbath rest.
James 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
VI. The Remedy for the Curse: Redemption in Christ
VI. The Remedy for the Curse: Redemption in Christ
Illustration: Attended the funeral for a teenager with hundreds of teens in attendance. The bad news of breaking the law was given, but the good news of Jesus. I decided if there wasn’t time for one we would find time for the other.
Hold on fast - this is for next week. But we can’t leave here without hope.
A. God's Provision in Genesis 3
A. God's Provision in Genesis 3
The Gospel promised. Genesis 3:15 “15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
The Gospel foreshadowed. Genesis 3:21 “21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
B. Christ as the Answer to the Curse
B. Christ as the Answer to the Curse
Bearing the Curse on the Cross (Galatians 3:13)
Jesus took upon Himself the burden of sin.
His death satisfies God's justice.
Providing True Rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
Rest is found not in idleness but in Christ.
Restoring Work to its Proper Purpose (Colossians 3:23-24)
Work is no longer a burden or an idol but an act of worship.
C. The Call to a Transformed Life
C. The Call to a Transformed Life
Work Directed Toward God's Glory
Seeking excellence for God's sake, not personal pride.Viewing work as service, not self-promotion.
Rest Devoted to Worship and Renewal
Finding true rest in communion with God.Setting aside time for spiritual renewal.
V. Conclusion: Life Beyond the Curse
V. Conclusion: Life Beyond the Curse
The curse reveals humanity’s need for redemption.
Christ restores the balance between work and rest.
The only true satisfaction comes from a life centered on God.
The final redemption will come when God renews creation (Revelation 21:1-5).
Conclusion
Conclusion
Even though work has been marred by sin, it remains a calling from God. The struggle of labor reminds us of the need for redemption, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. As believers, we are called to work not just for survival but as an act of worship, reflecting God’s character and anticipating the restoration of all things.
