FAITH MATTERS:
In the beginning, God was Working at Creation
July 18, 2026
By Bishop Gerard Bergie
Contributing Columnist
In the beginning of the Book of Genesis, we discover that God is the creator of heaven and earth.
For six days, God worked at giving life and meaning to a formless void filled with darkness and chaos. Made in God’s image and likeness, the crowning glory of creation was man and woman.
When the work of creating was completed, we are told that God considered everything that had been created to be very good (Genesis 1:31). And God rested.
In this time of summer vacations, one may wonder why I am talking about work rather than rest. The reason is that we can easily forget the significance of human labour.
This is especially true as job loss numbers are increasing and growth in the labour market is slow.
This has a profound impact, especially on our youth.
Although it is the time of summer vacations, perhaps it is also an opportune time to consider our attitude toward work. Do we live to work or simply work to live?
Catholic social teaching views work not merely as a necessary burden to survive, but as a fundamental way humans share in God’s ongoing creation. Through labour, individuals develop their God-given potential. They are also able to maintain their dignity, strengthen virtue, and contribute to the common good.
It is through our work that we cultivate a sense of fulfilment and purpose.
Dignity is inherent in each person. This means that every person has intrinsic worth simply by being human.
For the individual, dignity is foundational to a healthy sense of self-worth and self-respect. Human labour promotes dignity by giving opportunities to be creative, valued and respected. It contributes to emotional well-being and to a greater sense of purpose and achievement.
Human labour also helps build character by cultivating the virtues of discipline, responsibility, co-operation, prudence and wisdom. Working in a supportive environment can help to bring the best out in us, especially as we work with others.
The common good looks to those things that benefit and protect all members of society rather than just individual self interest. It is based on a core principle that we depend upon one another in order to reach our full potential.
Our work helps to support the common good by providing economic, social, and political stability in our communities. We are able to use our God-given gifts and talents for the good of all.
In 1981, Pope John Paul II wrote an encyclical Laborem Exercens (on Human Work).
He began with the following observation, “Work is one of these aspects, a perennial and fundamental one, one that is always relevant and constantly demands renewed attention and decisive witness. Because fresh questions and problems are always arising, there are always fresh hopes, but also fresh fears and threats, connected with this basic dimension of human existence: man’s life is built up every day from work, from work it derives its specific dignity, but at the same time work contains the unceasing measure of human toil and suffering, and also of the harm and injustice which penetrate deeply into social life within individual nations and on the international level.” (LE 1)
Pope John Paul II reminds us that human labour is a precious gift that can be abused. This is why a just society makes employment a priority ensuring work that provides protection, dignity and financial stability.
As the Book of Genesis reminds us, our work allows us to participate in the work of the Creator. From a theological perspective, this sacred partnership helps us become co-creators with God in helping to bring meaning and order to our troubled world.