Till And Keep: Man's Vocation At Eden

By Matthews Otalike, October 14, 2025

God made us in his image and unto his likeness, offering us a share in his great work of creation. He gave our first parents dominion over the creatures of the earth to bring them to perfection, ordering them to his glory. As rational creatures, our creativity draws out the potential in material things and directs them to higher purposes, both in human society and divine worship. We also exercise stewardship over creation on behalf of God, seeking to protect it from evil on the material and spiritual levels.

There is much we can learn from our first parents in the Garden, both in the perfect communion they shared and other creatures, and in the way they fell into disorder, leading creation itself into futility. This talk will look at the nature of human dominion and work, the roles of tilling and keeping, and the importance of sacrifice in directing all things to their purpose in God. As Christians, we are called to bring order back into the world, restoring the communion that has been lost through sin.