When God placed Adam in the garden, He didn’t do it for him to just hang out. He did it for him to have a mission and a purpose. That mission was twofold: work and guard the garden and everything in it.

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

God was the one who decided man’s mission. He put him in a certain place with certain tasks.

Adam’s first mission was to work the garden. Where is your garden?

The first question you must ask as a man is, Where has God placed you? What is the domain He has placed you over? These domains are; first yourself, second your wife and children. After this, it also involves the church to which you belong, the community in which God has placed you, and the job He has given you.

The second question is, how are you being fruitful with what God has given you? (Matthew 25:14-30) Adam’s call to work was for fruitfulness. He was called to take care and produce more than he needed. He was called to bless Eve, who God placed in the garden with Adam, the animals, and eventually the children God would give. 

If He has given you a wife, are you being fruitful to have children if God blesses you so? If He has given you a job, do you take what your employer has given you and use it to produce more in other areas? If He has placed you in a community, how are you putting more into the community than you are taking? 

Adam’s second mission was to keep the garden. This has the idea of guarding it. Everything God placed in the garden; Adam was called to protect. Adam failed and lost his domain because of it. 

Who has God called you to guard, men? A wife, children, career, community? How are you protecting what you have produced? What action steps are you taking to care for and protect your wife, kids, church, and community?

And finally,

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, ESV)

What say you Man of Valor?

Adapted from maddeningtheology by Tim Madden, Dated: September 11, 2023