Name The Animals
- Jun 24, 2014
- 2 min read
Today’s Just a Thought comes from Genesis 2:19.
God asked Adam to name the animals. Simple task.
God, when he created mankind in his image, placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. His first ask was to name the animals. The Bible says God watched to see what he would name them.
Was there a possibility that Adam would have gotten this task wrong? Could he have chosen the wrong name?
What were the statistics behind the probability of each name and its positive or negative effect on the rest of eternity?
What was politically correct? Who would he be offending?
How was that name to be spelled correctly, anyway?
What was the quota for the day? Ten names or maybe twenty?
How would the creativity of each name be measured?
Would that name be marketable?
Would that name be first up in a Google search?
What was the consequence for getting the task wrong?
What was the reward for getting it right?
Who was there for Adam to compete against and be measured by?
God just sat and watched, amazed at any answer Adam came up with, for all answers were a total creation.
As time has passed, we have taken what used to be simple tasks and turned them into statistical analytics. We’ve removed the possibility for creativity and instilled anxiety into the successful fulfillment of each and every task.
We are compared, rewarded, disciplined, promoted, demoted, encouraged, discouraged, judged, liked or disliked by each decision that is made today.
As leaders who desire to instill creativity, initiative, empowerment, growth and development into those they lead, we have to go back to God’s way. Give people a simple task and just watch in wonder as they accomplish it.
It was God’s intent for us to work the Garden of Eden and to be an active participant in his creation. But there was no condemnation, comparison, performance measure, statistical analysis or reward system.
It was a pure sense of allowing his children to enjoy and be part of his plan.
As leaders, let us go back to the simplicity of each task — encouraging, watching and enjoying the creativity instilled in each person.
Just a thought …
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