Consciousness, and Dignity of Work

Suppose we assume validity of the Genesis story of creation. In context of that version of origins of life, God placed man in a Garden (Eden), which already had all that he needed — food, water, shelter, and supernatural clothing. God then entrusted man with responsibility of care for the Garden.

Right of the bat, we arrive at an important inference, namely, man did not have to tend the garden so he could earn money for food and expenses. Food already was part of the Garden, and there were not any expenses that were not already paid.

Tending of the Garden then, did not have character of servitude to God, rather was, in entirety, for man’s very own benefit. If man did not attend to the Garden, it was his food and ‘already paid for’ expenses that would deteriorate. In presence of this realization, much like man mows his lawn, and maintains his house for his very own benefit, man’s tending of the garden was, in entirety, for his very own benefit.

If we accept the Genesis account for origins of life, work did not precede food and payment of all expenses, rather work ensured food that already was available, and expenses that already were paid remained as such.