Before sin entered the world, God designed work as an expression of His own nature. Genesis 2:15 tells us, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” This was not an afterthought or a punishment. It was part of the original blessing. Humanity was entrusted with the sacred task of cultivating creation and stewarding it for flourishing.
For executives and leaders, this truth changes how we see our daily roles. Your duty in managing teams, developing systems, and caring for resources is a continuation of your original calling to bring order, foster growth, and reflect God’s character through meaningful work. Leadership itself is a God-given responsibility. When you make decisions that create value and dignity for others, you participate in God’s creative work.
The False Divide Between Sacred and Secular
Modern life has taught us to separate faith from work, viewing Sunday as sacred and Monday as a grind or identity. However, Scripture does not support this division. Genesis 1 and 2 show that God’s image-bearers were never meant to compartmentalize their identity. All of life, including work, was designed as worship.
Colossians 3:23 emphasizes this unity: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” The word “whatever” covers every boardroom decision, budget review, and performance evaluation. Nehemiah rebuilt city walls as an act of obedience. Daniel served in a pagan government without compromising his integrity. Lydia sold purple cloth in the marketplace while supporting the early church. These examples show that God’s people have always brought faith into the heart of their daily labor.
When we embrace this vision, we give purpose to the places where we spend most of our waking hours. No role is too ordinary to become an act of devotion.
Vocation as Sacred Partnership
Work isn’t just a way to earn money or improve productivity. It’s a sacred partnership with the Creator. When you lead with integrity, encourage innovation, and respect those you serve, you reflect God’s creative spirit. Your strategic planning meetings, budget decisions, and team development discussions can become sacred spaces where God’s goodness is demonstrated and serve as a witness—perhaps the only Bible your team and partners ever read.
This perspective also changes how we see evangelism. Many colleagues have only heard Christianity described as restrictions, guilt, and rescue. But the story starts with dignity and purpose—the hope in restoring Shalom. When you share your faith from this point of view, you meet people where they already feel a sense of meaning, even if they can’t put it into words. You can affirm their desire to build, steward, and lead as reflections of the image of God.
Imagine how different your next faith conversation could be if it started with what was beautifully created instead of what’s broken.
A Witness Through Excellence
For leaders, influence is established not only through words but also through actions, leading to trust and integrity. Excellence, stewardship, and compassion are not tactics for personal advantage. They are acts of worship. The dedication to high standards, ethical practices, and the growth of those you serve reflects the God who first brought order out of chaos.
When you view your work as part of God’s original plan, you become a more powerful witness that demonstrates the gospel’s ability to restore all things, including the meaning of work itself. The way you handle pressure, treat employees, and balance profit with people reveals a lot about who you believe God is.
Walking in Redemption
Although sin fractured God’s design, it did not eliminate it. The cross of Christ redeems not only souls but also callings. Your vocation can still serve as a tool of God’s grace and restoration. As Paul wrote, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). That includes the good work of leadership and influence.
By leading with purpose, you encourage others to discover the One who created them and called them to reflect His glory. As you act with intention and faith, you participate in God’s unfolding story to renew all things.
This post is part of the series: Evangelism Reframed.
Too often, we begin the gospel story in Genesis 3. But what if we started in Genesis 1, where God began, with identity, purpose, and calling? This series invites leaders and culture-shapers to explore evangelism through the lens of creation, image-bearing, and the redemptive story as a whole. Each post is crafted to stir reflection and equip you to lead others toward Christ with theological depth and strategic wisdom.
Series Overview:
- Article 1: Why We Need a Better Starting Point
Reframing evangelism through the lens of creation, not just sin, for a more faithful and strategic gospel witness. - Article 2: Made in His Image: Identity, Dignity, and Design
What it means to be made in the image of God and how that shapes leadership, purpose, and gospel conversations. - Article 3: The Goodness of Work Before the Fall
Exploring vocation as a sacred partnership with God and how Genesis affirms work as originally good. - Article 4: When the Design Fractures
Sin distorted the original design, but the image of God remains. How to walk with others through brokenness toward hope. - Article 5: Bringing the Whole Gospel to Work
Practical ways to lead with grace and speak the gospel without Christianese in boardrooms, breakrooms, and beyond.
Let this series ground you in the whole story of Scripture – creation, fall, redemption, and restoration – so you can share a gospel that meets people where they are and leads them to where God is calling them.
