Gen.1:26-28 (NKJV)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [a]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [b]moves on the earth.”
Dominion is not exploitation; it is stewardship under God’s authority.
Work is not a result of the Fall—it is part of the original blessing.
Image of God and the Dominion Mandate (Genesis 1:28)
Being created in the image of God (tselem Elohim) is inseparable from the dominion mandate. In Genesis 1, God does not first give humanity authority and then call them His image; He gives authority because they are His image.
“Let us make mankind in our image… and let them rule…” (Gen. 1:26)
“Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.” (Gen. 1:28)
In the ancient world, an “image” represented the authority of a king in his territory. Genesis applies this royal language to all humanity: to bear God’s image is to exercise God’s rule on His behalf. Dominion, therefore, is not domination or exploitation, but representation—extending God’s wise, just, and life-giving order into creation.
This means:
- Image precedes authority — we rule because we represent God
- Authority is delegated, not possessed — we act under God, not as God
- Dominion is stewardship — caring for creation as God would care for it
The dominion mandate explains why image-bearing matters practically. God places His image-bearers throughout the earth so that His character, values, and order would be made visible everywhere.
Dengan fondasi inilah kita memahami urutan Alkitab yang tidak bisa dibalik:
Dominion Mandate = Identity → Fruitfulness → Authority → Influence
Theological Insight
Dominion without image-bearing becomes oppression.
Image-bearing without dominion becomes passive spirituality.
But when image-bearing and dominion stay together, humanity fulfills its original calling.
Sermon-Ready Summary Lines
- We do not rule to define ourselves; we rule because we represent God.
- Authority is not a privilege to exploit, but a responsibility to reflect God.
- God entrusted dominion to humanity so that the world would experience His rule through His image-bearers.
The dominion mandate is not about power—it is about representing God faithfully in the world He loves.
The dominion mandate means:
1. Work Is Sacred
Work is not a post-Fall punishment but a pre-Fall calling.
Before sin entered the world, humanity was already commissioned to cultivate, steward, and develop creation (Gen. 1–2).
Work becomes sacred because:
- It flows from being created in God’s image
- It participates in God’s ongoing creative activity
- It serves God’s purposes, not merely human survival
Work is sacred when it is done in alignment with God’s design, not merely for personal gain.
Implication:
Every honest vocation—business, education, art, governance, homemaking, ministry—can become an act of worship.
Applications:
1. Reframe Your Daily Work as Calling, Not Merely Career
Stop seeing work only as a way to earn income or status.
See it as a field God has entrusted to you for cultivation.
- Ask daily: How does my work serve God’s purposes and bless others?
- Approach tasks with faithfulness, not resentment.
2. Pursue Excellence as Worship, Not Perfection for Approval
Because work reflects God’s character, it deserves care and excellence.
But excellence flows from identity—not insecurity.
- Do your work well even when unseen.
- Resist cutting corners when integrity is tested.
3. Reject the Sacred–Secular Divide
God is not only interested in “church work.”
He is Lord over every honest vocation.
- Stop ranking jobs as more or less spiritual.
- Honor business, education, art, and homemaking as holy callings.
4. Work to Add Value, Not Merely Extract Reward
Sacred work seeks fruitfulness, not exploitation.
- Ask: Am I leaving people, systems, and resources better than I found them?
- Measure success by contribution, not only compensation.
5. Practice Rhythms That Honor God’s Design
Because work is sacred, it must also respect God-given limits.
- Embrace rest, boundaries, and Sabbath rhythms.
- Refuse productivity that destroys your soul or relationships.
6. Offer Your Work Intentionally to God
Work becomes worship when it is consciously surrendered.
- Begin workdays with prayer: “Lord, receive my work today.”
- View challenges as opportunities to trust God’s wisdom.
2. Leadership Is for Service
Dominion reflects God’s kingship, not worldly power.
God rules by giving, sustaining, and blessing life—never by exploiting it.
Therefore, leadership under the dominion mandate means:
- Authority exists to serve those under it
- Power is exercised to protect, not to control
- Influence is measured by flourishing, not fear
Influence is measured by flourishing, not fear means that leadership is proven by the growth, health, and maturity of people—not by how intimidated, dependent, or controlled they become.
In practice:
- Fear produces compliance; flourishing produces commitment
- Fear suppresses initiative; flourishing multiplies responsibility
- Fear keeps people small; flourishing helps people grow
In short, If people thrive, develop, and become stronger under your influence, authority is being exercised rightly. If people shrink, remain silent, or merely survive, influence has shifted from stewardship to control.
Leadership is validated not by position, but by the health and growth of those being led.
3. Authority Is Responsibility
In Genesis, dominion is delegated authority—not ownership.
Human beings rule under God, not instead of God.
This means:
- Authority always comes with accountability
- Power must be exercised with humility
- Decisions must consider long-term impact, not short-term gain
Authority is not a privilege to enjoy, but a responsibility to steward.
Where authority lacks responsibility, dominion turns into domination.
Closing:
The dominion mandate reminds us that humanity was created not to rule for self, but to steward for God.
True dominion is not measured by control or power, but by how much life, dignity, and purpose grow under our care—all for the glory of God.
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