"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Genesis 1:27-28(NIV)
Genesis 1 gives the account of creation. Genesis 2 goes into more details about the same account. We know from Genesis 2 that Man was created first and then the woman.
However Genesis 1 is vital to understanding the place of man and woman in creation.
Genesis 1:27 makes it plain that God created Man and Woman in His likeness. Genesis 1:28 shows God blessing both Man and Woman and telling them both to subdue the earth. As far as God is concerned, Man and Woman are equal in His sight. We are all given the authority to rule the earth. God sees us as His creation. The place of man and Woman in the creation of God is the same - to rule over it.
The amplified Bible helps bring out the full meaning of what God meant by subduing the earth.
"... be fruitful,multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea ...." Genesis 1:28 Amplified Bible
Using all the vast resources of the earth for the service of God and Man is what it means to subdue the earth.
All the inventions of the past centuries are a direct result of this command given to mankind. The advances in medicine, science, technology e.t.c are a fulfilment of God's word to us.
Even people who do not know the Lord, or even hold to the erroneous view that God does not exist are benefiting from God's word to mankind.
In fact every good thing we do on earth is a result of the provision God has made for it in His Word. (Hebrews 1:3)
All the gold, electricity, technology e.t.c were provided for mankind right from the beginning of creation. It has just taken us a while to find these resources and use them.
When men lived in caves and rode on horses they could have been living in houses heated with electricity and rode in cars. The resources have always been here. We just had not discovered them.
The discovery of these things have been made by men and women over the years. The promise to discover them was given to mankind.
There is no reason why we as Christians should not excel in our secular jobs.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
We have been called to stand before God as His chosen people. God uses men and women. The word "man" in the scriptures refer to mankind.
God blessed man and woman at the same time because they were one.
He used a woman to lead Israel
(Deborah Judges 4 & 5)
He used a woman to save Israel
(Jael - Judge 4)
A woman's wise words saved a city
(Wise woman 2 Samuel 20:16-22)
Women ministered to Jesus out of their resources.
(Different woman - Luke 8: 1-3, Luke 24:1)
They were active in church life with important roles
(Acts 21:9, Roman 16: 1-3, Acts 18)
The Bible devotes loads of chapters and even whole books to the effective ministry of women of outstanding character and ability.
(Hannah -1 Samuel 1, Esther - the whole book of Esther, Ruth - the whole book of Ruth, Mary)
The summary is this - God's place for man and woman in creation is exacly the same; to subdue it, to excel in the spiritual and secular realm. God sees us as mankind not as men and women.
Nevertheless, just like Pastors and members of a congregation are equal before God yet have different roles in the church, so are men ane women given different roles within the home.