You Were Made to Produce

Genesis 2:15 – “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

I used to think work was a curse. Like many, I bought into the idea that work is what you have to do so you can eventually afford what you want to do. But somewhere along the way—between a soul-deep burnout and a humbling moment in prayer—I realized something that changed everything: God gave Adam a job before He gave him a wife.

Before there was sin, there was work. That means work isn’t a punishment—it’s a purpose.

That truth hit me hard in a season when I felt aimless. I had a decent job and a decent paycheck, but inside, I felt like I was just clocking in and clocking out. No spark. No drive. I had lost sight of what I was made for. But when I opened Genesis and saw that God placed Adam in the garden to work it and keep it, it reframed everything.

Work isn’t just about making money—it’s about making meaning. God designed us to build, solve, lead, and create. That doesn’t mean everyone’s supposed to be an entrepreneur or a CEO. It means that whether you’re swinging a hammer, typing code, raising kids, or teaching third graders, your work can reflect the character of a God who is always creating, always cultivating.

I used to feel guilty for wanting to succeed. I thought that maybe ambition was at odds with humility. But then I realized—it’s not ambition that’s wrong. It’s selfish ambition. There’s a difference. God honors the man who wakes up early, works with his hands, and sees his job as a form of worship.

I’ve started to ask a different question in the mornings—not, “What do I have to do today?” but, “What do I get to build today?”

Some days it’s small—organizing a meeting that actually helps instead of wasting time. Other days it’s bigger—leading a team through a tough season. But every day, I’m learning to see my work not as something separate from my faith, but as a part of it.

So here’s the reminder I needed—and maybe you do too:

You were made to produce.

You weren’t made for apathy. You weren’t made to coast. God placed something inside you that the world needs.

Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Don’t wait until everything makes sense. Just start. Work the garden God gave you. Get your hands in the dirt.

Because the God who put Adam in Eden still calls men to build today.

And He blesses what you put your hands to.