I have been in the workplace for longer than I want to admit and one thing I can say is I hear more about the differences between men and women at work than what unifies us. Although I don’t want to overlook the different realities men and women face in the workforce, I also don’t think we talk enough about God’s point of view on men and women when it comes to work. So, let’s examine some of the women in the Bible and the true definition of unity, or the state of being united or joined as a whole, when it comes to men and women at work.

In Genesis 1:26-27 we see the beautiful work of unity in creation.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:26-27).

We first see unity in the trinity before God even created man and woman. Our image and our likeness—not my image and my likeness—our. God embodies the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the image of God, working together to form creation.

And, when we read the verse about creating man, he created both male and female in his own image. Not men exalted above women or women above men but creation in his image, in unity.

If we don’t look to the beginning, it is easy to look at the ways culture and society have created norms about work. The reality is, these are not God’s norms for men and women. The next verses in Genesis 1:28-29 further frame God’s plans for man and woman.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food” (Genesis 1:28-29).

God gave man and woman an equal command to work—in unity.

So, why do we have so much trouble with unity of men and women at work today? Sin. Your sin and mine. Men sin and women sin. We break unity. But awareness of how it should be—this is the best start. And we can look at how God used men and women together in scripture to accomplish his plans.