August 31, 2008

Genesis 1:26-28

Exordium: Your work, your efforts between Sundays wherever it may be, can be a throne from which you rule over God’s creation on the earth or a thorn that stabs you as you make your way to your daily duties.
The difference between the throne and the thorn is only the little letter “e”-which can stand for “explanation.” That is the person who doesn’t see daily work as a gift and a throne of privilege and honor lacks the explanation of work found in the first chapter of Genesis.

Explication: In this eloquent and yet simple chapter which God revealed to Moses-there is a step by step description of the origin of all things, until the climax is reached in the creation of man and woman, boys and girls. Right there the Bible tells me who I am, and what makes me differ from everything else that God has made.

Here at the beginning of all things is our daily life and work-as part of our purpose in being and part of God’s purpose in making us the crown of all his creative genius.

The key word in the scripture is “dominion”-this is an honor put upon us, so that we might return honor to our maker.  The word “dominion” refers to someone who directs and leads the activities of others, someone who has the rule over others, to arrange them-to order their lives and to use them as he fulfills the purpose of God.

One who fails to seize this place of dominion and occupy it as a throne may not have understood and believed the Bible basis for it. Let me try to explain.

I. THE BASIS FOR OUR DOMINION OVER THE WORLD FROM GENESIS ONE

This thought is focused especially in verses 26-28-describing the sixth day of creation. Called the day because it is the day God formed Adam from the dust of the earth-the way the potter molds the clay for a vessel. None of the other days has the article before it.

With the words “let us make man in our image”, we overhear the council of the members of the Trinity speaking together about this momentous thing that God is about to undertake. The pinnacle of creation was about to be reached.

All the other creatures were made by “the word of the Lord,” “let there be light”, “let there be vegetation”, but Adam is made to live by “the breath of God.” That breath is the seal and pledge that he is different from everything else God has made.

Adam is made in the image and likeness of God, not to look like God physically but to be like God in mind, heart, and will and to reflect God’s very nature and being in himself. None of the other creatures is made along this pattern of the image of God.

Adam is given a charge on behalf of all of us in his human family. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over the earth and every creeping thing that creeps on the face of the earth.  Down to the last insect, mankind is in charge.

This was God giving supremacy, authority, over all that he had made on the earth. “Subdue the earth,” he says in verse 28-that is, you have that duty, not that you are stronger or smarter, but because I have appointed you to be the king over creation; to mount the throne of my world and reign there in my name and by my charge. God is saying, “Seize the throne I have erected for you!”

II. WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN FOR US?

God is giving us the right to use and enjoy that He has made. He is saying it was made for you. Rule over it and love it; that means lordship over the earth. That is governing the creation, all for God’s glory.

It means bringing the fullest potential out of what God has made. There is the capacity for music in the air and in the ear, but neither Rachmaninoff nor Tchaikovsky had composed or played yet. Seize the throne by harnessing sound and materials to make the air vibrate with music.

The lordship starts with ourselves. We are to be kings over our own bodies and minds first. Our throne is first our own heart in which we can say to a habit, “I am done with you; no more.”
It means stewardship- that is to see the creation as a product of God’s kindness and to prevent its exploitation or careless damage by thoughtless people.
It means careful use of the earth and all it holds precious for us so that our children and grandchildren can also enjoy what God has made.
It means giving account one day for what He has given us. What we have is God’s gift to us; what we pass on is our gift to God.
It means protecting and caring for the animal kingdom he has fashioned to serve us, feed us, give us clothing and friendship and joy, and to serve as illustrations for his parables to us and for the lessons he has embedded in their behavior.  Human sin will lead to neglect, abuse, torture in the animal kingdom, but it is ours to protect and provide for them without worshipping the earth or the created order.

Understand what is implied in our being given dominion – then seize that throne and enjoy it.

III. WHAT SHALL WE THEN DO WITH OUR DAILY WORK?

Use your vocation as a tool to seize the throne. (For the children, a vocation is the work you do as called by God, between Sundays)
• Are you a homemaker-that is your calling
• Are you a business person-use your throne to change the way business is done in your sector.
• Are you a teacher-your class room is your throne from which you can carry out God’s mandate.

Vocation is God’s call onyour life. Every person’s life is a plan of God, and every person is created with a part to play-a story to be told- a work to accomplish.

Every person’s vocation has two parts to it:

1. The use of talents and gifts to meet the needs of others-your vocation and

2. The spread of the message of Christ and his love to others

These may not have equal time in the schedule of the Christian, but both are aspects of his vocation-his call to the throne.

All vocations are level in God’s eyes. The call to a religious work is no holier than the call to plumbing or the framing store. Most of the Bible heroes had secular jobs, and it was there that God used them; e.g. Abraham was a real estate developer, Esther, a beauty queen and Joseph, a prime minister. Seventy-five percent of Jesus’ working time was spent in the carpenter shop not the pulpit.

Here was one of the great joys of the Protestant Reformation-the rediscovery of a Christian’s vocation apart from the priesthood and the honor of every day work. Every calling is sacred to God. He designed each one.

The principle imbedded in vocation is part of the Great Commandment that our Lord gave us, “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself.” Not only are we to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, but our neighbor-who is our mate, our customer, our infant in arms, our boss, our employee. God doesn’t need our good works, but our neighbor does-so seize the throne in order to fulfill your calling to love your neighbor.

IV. WHAT HELP DO I HAVE TO TAKE DOMINION FROM MY THRONE IN THE WORKPLACE?

A. Remember the mask you are wearing- your vocation is your mask. People see you as a teacher or a sales rep or a homemaker but that is only a mask hiding God. God is blessing others through you and hiding in you. Each person who serves you is likewise a “mask of God” hidden in the butcher or the realtor. Is the Lord God meeting your need through a person, with the mask of a trade or a skill? Thank Him for it.

B. Follow God’s Commandments in serving others in your daily work.

1. Serve God through the person who is your boss.
2. Don’t make an idol out of your job or your calling. Worship God only.
3. Watch your words-let your speech build others up, take dominion over the conversations you are in.
4. Keep God’s Sabbath. This is a day in which your work is subordinated to worship and fellowship. Don’t let your work trample down the rhythm of work and worship. In six days you shall do all your work, but the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.
5. Obey your supervisor- try to make her or him a success. Find out his goals so that you can help meet them.
6. Use your vocation to promote life and never to harm others.
7. Don’t use the workplace as a site for flirtation or fascination with another person.
8. Be scrupulously honest with your time and the property of those you serve.
9. Don’t speak negatively against anyone with whom you work. Ever.
10. Don’t be greedy for gain. Focus on meeting the needs of others and God will meet your needs.

C. Take the Holy Spirit as your senior partner in your daily work.

• He will pray through you and with you.
• He will make your work successful.
• He will transfer your prayers to the Father and Christ’s grace to you.
• He will give you the energy and power you need to rule from your throne.
• He will give you love to live by.
• He wants to partner with you.

Conclusion: God takes pleasure in your occupying the throne he has created for you. He has finished his creative work and gets joy now reflected from your making the most and best out of his creation.

Realize the throne you have here in this world is training for the place you will occupy in the new heavens and the new earth. There you will reign with Christ in splendor and majesty.

Seize the throne now and you will be prepared for the wonderful rule you will enjoy forever.