Wednesday: Care of the Earth
“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Gen. 2:15, NKJV).
What principles, if any, can we take from this text that should influence how we relate to our planet in terms of taking care of it?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
Before sin, Adam and Eve had been delegated stewardship over all that God had entrusted to them. They had mastery over plant and animal life. Yet, after sin, all of nature seemed to rebel against them to the same extent that they had rebelled against God. Human beings began to see themselves powerless in the face of the elements (weather, agriculture, the animal kingdom).
“Among the lower creatures Adam had stood as king, and so long as he remained loyal to God, all nature acknowledged his rule; but when he transgressed, this dominion was forfeited. The spirit of rebellion, to which he himself had given entrance, extended throughout the animal creation. Thus not only the life of man, but the nature of the beasts, the trees of the forest, the grass of the field, the very air he breathed, all told the sad lesson of the knowledge of evil.” – Ellen G. White, Education, pp. 26-27.
Today we are still ravaged by natural disasters and our deteriorating ecosystem, at least in some places. Thus, we make great efforts to use technology and industry to protect ourselves. However, though technology and industry may help us protect ourselves, sometimes the same technology can damage our planet. Ecology is a moral, ethical, and theological issue, especially when exploitation of the earth can lead to great hardship for others.
“Seventh-day Adventists advocate a simple, wholesome lifestyle, where people do not step on the treadmill of unbridled consumerism, goods-getting, and production of waste. We call for respect of creation, restraint in the use of the world’s resources, reevaluation of one’s needs, and reaffirmation of the dignity of created life.”-In “Official Statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Environment,” 1995.
| How do we strike the right balance in our attitude toward the earth: being good stewards of the home we have been given while at the same time avoiding the danger of making the earth and the environment gods whom we all but worship? What warning might Romans 1:25 have for us here? |
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Many different cultures have had idols in the form of fashioned images and animals. In our life style, many idolize a number of enticements by choice. We need help. Help is available, Ps 40:17, Ps 121:1,2, Ps 46:1.
We are to take care of nature because it is God's property, not because it a god. Also, we cannot undo the damage done to the planet by taking care of it; nevertheless, we are to protect it because it is our creator's property. God made in six days and let the sabbath day to remind us that the earth is his and everything that is there in Ex. 20: 8-12. The man of sin is calling for a movement to protect nature, "because is it mother the nature that sustains us", but we know that God is our father, our creator and who sustains us. Let us be very careful not to join the movement of the papacy in these last days.
Esther
One way to protect as God's stewards is to reject public education and forbid its teachings in our schools. Many SDA parents don't believe in our schools opting for free public education. Our text books teach evolution to point to its invalidity & fiction is read withh contrary ideas. These result in negative impact & we wonder why. Protect our exposures and we can stay focused on having dominion not destruction of God's physical gifts.
I do believe that planting a garden, watering it daily, pulling and tilling the weeds, seeing the summer squash, pumpkins, and butternut squash push through the soil, is so wouderful and theraputic, witnessing Gods miracle of growth, I have no time to let the earth be my God. Yes we will have bountiful fruits of our labor in a couple of months. God had a good plan when He said, you will toil with the soil. Genesis 3:17,18,19.
I totally agree with you Esther
Today we hear so much about climate change and mans responsibility in this. While this is partially true, once sin entered this world the climate and the environment began to deteriorate. The countries of the world are focusing on man made solutions and has failed to acknowledge the Creator of this world who will one day recreate it.
Do we really practices care of the Earth ?
What can be done to improve it?
God gave us a duty to look after his creation including ourselves,the nature around us.Theres no objection to his commandement.Its every's duty.
Often we only talk about protecting our environment. I thought I would share with you just a little of some of the retirement work that I am involved in as an example of a practical application of today's lesson idea.
For some years now I have been involved in a project in our local community photographing birds. I am involved in several community activities to promote an interest in birds. For example, there is a group involved in the University of the 3rd Age - an effort to encourage older folk and retirees to be active in the community. I lead a group of about half a dozen folk through the local bush tracks looking for and identifying the birds we find. I also maintain a web page of the birds I have photographed in the local area.
You can look at the gallery here:
https://ashton-scape.smugmug.com/Cooranbong-Birds-Taxonomical-O/
I also post nature photographs in the local community Facebook page to encourage more of the community to be aware of the biodiversity we have in the local area.
These sorts of activity provide an opportunity to meet others and encouraging an interest in the environment. As a result, I have made many friends in the community both Christian and unchurched folk.
Why when the SS Lesson deals with dominion over the Earth is it so focused on Human - Human interactions? Having so much on Human - Human interactions distracts from a crucial topic. There is more than enough in the Bible about Stewardship of the Earth for at least a lesson.
Leviticus 19:9-10New International Version (NIV)
9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.
The European Union PAYS farmers to not to harvest to the edge of their fields to provide homes and food for wildlife, to protect water courses ect.
Deuteronomy 22:6English Standard Version (ESV)
6 “If you come across a bird's nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young.
This is now reconised as sustainable harvesting and the European Union fishery policy states fish nets have to have a mesh size large enough to let baby fish escape.
Luke 12:6-7New International Version (NIV)
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings,.... As two were sold for one farthing; see Gill on Matthew 10:29; so in buying and selling, where more money is laid out, things are bought cheaper; the Persic version reads, "for two barley corns":
and not one of them is forgotten before God; a single sparrow, a bird of little value and worth, is taken notice and care of by him; it has its life from him, and is provided for with food by him, and is under his protection; nor does he ever forget it, nor can any thing be done to it, without his permission; it cannot be struck, so as to cause it to fall on the ground, or be taken in a snare, or be killed in any shape, without the knowledge of God: his providence reaches to the minutest creatures and things, and much more then to rational creatures, to men; and still more to his dear children, ministers, and apostles.
Revelation 11:18King James Version (KJV)
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
We can be lost for destroying the Earth and N.B. text does NOT add except you keep the 7th day Sabbath/pay tithe ect. That text proves Environmental Stewardship is crucial to Salvation
I have been asked several times Why I am active in Environmental Stewardship. I reply saying God made the World and we are stewards of it. That has led to discussion on origins so was evangelism.
The Environmental organisations are BEGGING those with a faith to be active in Environmental Stewardship. Often we struggle to make contact with those without a faith so why not use this opportunity to make contacts? Please join at least one Environmental group e.g. Greenpeace, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) or Wetland and Wildfowl Trust (WWT) ect
Thank you John. Our church has started being more green and there has been some push back. We know realistically we will not totally reverse the course of sin's impact on nature however we are called to be stewards and make a difference even in our little part of the world.
We don't know how the garden was “kept” in the perfect environment of the earth before sin, yet this was the work given to man in a world where everything was pronounced “very good!”. Today we see this employment as rewarding, though it requires great labor at times along with the sweat of the brow. We also have seasons that limit and confine both growth and production. Yet, the joy of gardening is a real pleasure and can be highly rewarding to the diligent who labor with the Lord in what He has created.
Though we may enjoy the fruit of our efforts and satisfy our physical needs through these gifts from God as we labor together with Him, the greatest blessing is the spiritual insights and knowledge of God gained from tending a garden, even in this sinful world. God will open our eyes to many wonderful revelations of Himself, which will help prepare us to meet our Savior soon.