AVODAH - WORK, SERVICE, WORSHIP

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Genesis 2: 15 (NIV)

(1)

INTRODUCTION

A creak could be heard,

a shuffling of clothes and scurrying of feet,

thought it was still dark outside,

Though the sun had yet to bring light;

There was work to be done, mouths to feed,

The shepherd had to pasture his sheep.

In the Slovenian language, there is a saying, "Rana ura, zlata ura." The literal translation would sound something along these lines: "Early hour is the golden hour." It is ancient wisdom connected to our daily lives, especially our main topic for today - work.

God always intended for men to have work. He put Adam in Eden with the commandment to cultivate it and take care of the animals living there. Work is more than just an occupation; it is a form of worshipping God, as the original Hebrew word avodah indicates.

THE HIDDEN MEANINGS OF THE WORD AVODAH

Eden required cultivation and proper care. Adam was put to work it in service and worship to God. Avodah is the Hebrew word in the Bible usually translated as "work". But it has also been used to denote "service" or "worship".

What the English language separates, the Hebrew uniquely combines. Our "work", no matter how ordinary it may be, is a form of service and worship to God. (2)

Leya Delray says in her article Avodah – A Word to Live By that "The main end of our lives…is to serve God (worship) in the serving of men (service) in the works of our calling (work)." (2)

Austin Burkhart adds in his article ‘Avodah’: What It Means to Live a Seamless Life of Work, Worship, and Service that "God’s original design and desire is that our work and our worship would be a seamless way of living." (3)

KEEP IT HOLY

We can not talk about work and forget to mention the 4th commandment of observing the Sabbath and keeping it holy.

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.

Exodus 20: 9-10 (ESV)

We are to cease all work on the Sabbath, except in cases of emergency and fulfilling other commandments.

AVODAH AND TIKKUN OLAM

The jews believe that avodah is strongly connected to the concept of tikkun olam. They believe that through work we can help bring about a more just and harmonious society. By using our resources and skills, we can benefit others. The concept is intertwined with philanthropic tzedakah. (4)

YESHUA, THE PERFECT EXAMPLE

We do not need to look any further than the cross to see a perfect example of avodah. The whole life of Yeshua was about worshipping God. They journeyed from town to town to preach the good news and heal the sick. He taught the ancient paths, fed the hungry, opened the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, and delivered people from demonic oppression. In His last act, He took our place on that cross. There was never a more perfect example of avodah, and there never will be again until the return of Yeshua.

CONCLUSION

God's design for man has always been that we would worship Him through being in service in the works of our calling. The Hebrew word Avodah perfectly encompasses all three concepts. No matter how ordinary our jobs may seem, they are a form of worship. They believe that through work we can help bring about a more just and harmonious society.

Application

Dear Abba, please show me what type of work you have called me to serve in. Please also reveal what place, city, and country you called me to. Amen.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com

2. Leya Delray. Avodah – A Word to Live By. February 10, 2018. Available at https://www.leyadelray.com/2018/02/10/avodah-a-word-to-live-by/

3. Austin Burkhart. ‘Avodah’: What It Means to Live a Seamless Life of Work, Worship, and Service. March 31, 2015. Available at https://tifwe.org/avodah-a-life-of-work-worship-and-service/

4. Colel Chabad. Understanding Avodah: The Concept of Work and Service in Judaism. May 14, 2024. Available at https://colelchabad.org/avodah/