Why Is Work So Stressful?

Genesis 2:15 ESV

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

We were made for two things. Worship and work. But I think we must understand that the original intent for man’s labor was to serve and keep the space around him. The word work here literally means to labor or to serve. The difference between the original intent of man’s labor here and our 21st century idea of work is that we are selfishly motivated to work whereas Adam was not. God did not tell Adam to go work the ground so that he could take care of himself and afford he and Eve a nice life. God commanded Adam to simply take care of the space that he had put him in, The Garden. A space that had everything Adam and Eve would need in order to live in bliss with God. God did not command Adam to go to work so that he could afford to eat good or dress well, because God not only created Adam, he provided for him.

As a matter of fact, it wasn’t until after the fall that Adam even sensed a need to be clothed. The fall changed a lot of things for humanity, because our relationship with God was tarnished. We often wonder why our work is so difficult and puts such a strain on our bodies and that is because of the fall. (Genesis 3:17-19) It was not God’s intent for our labor, but it is a consequence of the fall. Work did become a burden, it did not release us from the command to serve and keep the space around us. Also, God did not stop providing for humanity beyond our labor. God told Adam that he would eat bread by the sweat of his face, but Adam would still eat. We also learn in the New Testament that it is God who provides for us daily. (Matthew 6:25-34) So again, our principal purpose for working is not to serve ourselves but to serve and keep the space that God has put us in. If we take care of God’s space God will take care of us.

Matthew 6:25–34 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

We introduce much stress into our work by trying to take care of things God has already taken care of. One simple way to make your work less stressful is to relieve yourself of that pressure. The only way to do that, is to trust God.