Mensa Otabil - God Has Work For You To Do (09/29/2025)
We’re still in Genesis chapter 2, and we are in verse number 15. Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. God created the earth; He created the vegetation. Out of the vegetation that God has created, He planted a garden for man. After going to all that extent to make man comfortable, He changed the process a little bit. Instead of doing everything for man, He is now getting man to do something for himself. He took the man, placed him in the garden, and gave him the task to tend and to keep it. God put man to work.
We see clearly that right there in the Garden of Eden, there is work to be done. Work is not a curse; it is not a result of the fall of man. Work is a blessing; it allows us to partake of God’s creation. The work that God gives to us is related to the place He has planted us. If wherever He puts us, we’re going to work. Two words, or two phrases, I want you to note. The first is «tend.» It means to cultivate, to put in effort, to moisten, to till, to work with the earth and make sure that what God has planted keeps getting nourished. There are things that God wants us to do to nourish what He has given to us, to work to make sure that what He has given to us doesn’t die.
The second phrase is «keep it.» It means to watch over it, to protect it. God has given it to you; He’s planted a garden for you, and He has blessed you. Now He wants you to ensure that you don’t lose it. So He’s not going to give you the Eden and keep the Eden Himself; He gives you the Eden, but you keep the Eden. You tend the Eden, and you keep the Eden. Many times, when God gives us something, we assume that He will also grow it for us and protect it for us. But that’s not what we see here in Eden. God does some things for us, but there are things we have to do to protect what He has given to us.
So think of all the blessings that God has given to you: think of life, health, friendship, love, marriage, gifts, talents, and opportunities. Think of how happy you were when God blessed you with all of these things. Were you so thankful then? Do you still have them? Are you still satisfied with them? If you’re not satisfied, ask yourself: Why did God give me so much but I have so little left? Why did God give me so much joy but I’m so sad now? Because in Eden, God doesn’t keep the garden for us; we tend it and we keep it. Whether it’s a marriage, a job, a friendship, a relationship, or your health, it’s your body. God will give it to you, but you must tend it, and you must keep it. If you don’t, you’re going to lose it, and it wouldn’t be because God didn’t bless you or didn’t give you an Eden; it would simply be because you didn’t put in the work to tend it and to keep it.
That’s what I want you to understand: there’s so much that God gives us, but we have to tend it and keep it. I pray that He helps you to tend your body, your life, your marriage, and your relationships. Keep what He has given to you so it is not taken away from you. Let’s pray. Say with me: Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You’ve given me. Help me to cultivate and protect all the blessings in my life. In Jesus' name, amen. Tend it; keep it. That’s your responsibility. And Pastor Mensa Otabil, shalom, peace, and life to you.