Creating From Love vs Lack

To create is to love. To work from lack is to labor. 

In the beginning, God created — not out of necessity, but out of desire. He did not need the birds or the sea, the land or the trees. He did not even need humanity. He chose to create us in His image to receive, reflect, carry his love. We are His masterpiece, His poiema (Ephesians 2:10). 

In the same way, we are called to create from a place of love. Not from a desire to elevate ourselves, but from a longing to glorify God and steward the gifts He has placed within us. Our creativity is an echo of God’s art in creation. Oh, how beautiful it is that the Creator shared His desire to create with us.

Before the fall of humanity, work existed, but it wasn’t a burden. Adam was given the job of tending the garden – not as punishment but as purpose. After sin, the ground was cursed. Work was now marked by heaviness. God’s design for work was never meant to be painful. Work was meant to be an extension of who we are – joyful, purposeful, life giving. After all, God worked in creation and beyond. Working is meant to be walking in our Father’s footsteps. 

In our brokenness, work so easily becomes a means to an end. We work to live, not live to work. What if there is a better way to approach work? What if God said there was love rooted deeply in work?

When we work solely for necessity or status, the “reward” never truly satisfies. We have a God sized hole in the puzzle of our purpose here on earth. We were never meant to work from scarcity. No, we were fearfully and wonderfully made to work from love! Working from love is creating. Working from love is worship. Working from love is glorifying the Creator of the Universe, the Creator of you and me.

So, what do we do with this Truth? We look at what God has blessed us with: What comes naturally to you? What are you good at? What is your job? What do you wish was your job? What are your hobbies? What do others say you’re good at? What do you lose track of time doing?

The beautiful Truth is God has made all of us contributors to His poiema. Your work has purpose in the Kingdom of God – your artwork, photography, writing, latte making, parenthood, coding. It’s all hands on deck to make an Eden-like earth. God doesn’t need us, He wants us. He wants us out of love. It is out of this overflow of love that we are invited to create and work. 

So lead with your heart! Work from your heart. Work from love – love for the Lord, the world, for creating! 

Love is not a means to an end. Love is a posture, a starting point. Love is the posture of Jesus, the pace of the Spirit. It is from love that we do our best work. 

I hope this message makes sense – finding its way to the heart it was meant for. I could write about this for hours, but for now, I’ll end here, trusting God to do the rest!

Until the next page,

Elizabeth Ann