Most of us have come across a role description before. It is a simple statement that explains why a role exists, what responsibilities come with it, and the skills or qualities needed to do it well. It is a helpful document to see if we, or the people we manage, are fulfilling the requirements of a role. At the moment, I am thinking that it would be helpful to write out a role description for my kids. Then we could have an annual performance review to evaluate how well they’ve fulfilled their role over the past year. I am not sure this idea will be a big winner in my house.
But what about being human? Do we have a role description? If we did, that would be helpful to know how well we are going. In Genesis chapter 2, we are given a role description of sorts. In verse 15 it says:
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Humanity was given the role of gardeners, to work and take care of the Garden of Eden. It is not humanity’s role to create the garden—that has already been done by God. It is humanity’s role to take the potential of the garden and see it flourish. To take the raw materials of creation and arrange and tend to them in a way that would produce more life. Gardening therefore becomes a pattern for all work. Imagine if a wheat farmer just left his fields and didn’t do anything to them—the field wouldn’t produce anything other than weeds. However, when the farmer applies both his knowledge and labour to the field, something far greater results. This is true of all the work that we engage in. This image brings dignity to all the work we do, no matter how menial.
There is another gardener in the Bible. When Mary saw the risen Jesus, she thought he was the gardener. In a way, she was right. As American Pastor Tim Keller points out, where Adam failed to tend God’s garden, Jesus succeeds. He is the true gardener whose work brings life out of death, and in him, our work finds new meaning and eternal hope.