I’ve always thought it was cool how God gave us the important task to be stewards of the earth. Our mighty God created all the planets, the stars, the whole universe and gave us the best planet of all to take care of. So what does this mean for us?
Well let’s take a look at Genesis where it all began.
‘Then God said, ‘’Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’’.’ – Genesis 1: 26
Wow! What a task. But not to worry, notice that God created us in His image and likeness which means that the qualities that we have, God has and since He created us we therefore have the strength and power inside of us to do what God asks of us.
This task should not be taken lightly though; God has honoured us by giving us freedom and reign to take care of the earth He created. I often feel very small when I think about this assignment. How can one person make such an impact? I feel as if the governments, environmentalists or scientists have way more power to make a change than I do.
But that’s not true. Everyone has a role to play, both in damaging the earth and taking care of it. I have a couple of ideas to get you started, but first of all here are some keywords that you might come across in this post:
Co₂: Acronym for carbon dioxide which is a gas formed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. It is a gas that is vital for life on earth.
Carbon emissions: Is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. There are natural carbon emissions such as respiration (chemical process in which energy is released from food in living things) and decomposition (process of decay). However, added carbon emissions formed from deforestation and burning of fossil fuels are damaging to the earth’s atmosphere.
Carbon footprint: Is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of a person’s activities.
Fossil fuel: A natural fuel formed of past remains of living organisms. It is normally used to create energy.
Crude oil: Is unrefined oil used to create energy.
| My roles | Why? | God’s promise/commands |
| Walk as much as possible | Not only does this increase your stamina, endorphins and overall fitness, you also get to see great sights that you wouldn’t normally see whilst in a car. Did you know that transport produces around 23.3% of CO₂ emissions. Around 92% of that figure is down to road transport. | ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.’ – John 15:12. If CO₂ emissions continue to rise, the earth will continue to heat up which produces disastrous effects to agriculture around the world, many of whom rely on crops and cattle to make a living. By reducing our carbon footprint, we are saving our brothers and sisters elsewhere in the world from future harm…now that’s love. |
| Turn off electricals when they are not being used (this includes stand-by mode) | Not only does this save money for your parents on bills, it also helps to reduce the amount of energy created by power plant emissions. To generate electricity most power plants burn crude oil and other fossil fuels which produces a lot of pollution. | ‘When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, ‘’Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted’’.’ – John 6:12. Even Jesus knew the importance of stewardship of the earth His father created. |
| Recycle | Harmful chemicals are released from rubbish in landfill sites; they also harm the natural habitat for wildlife. By recycling, you are contributing to the re-using of materials so that less energy is used to create new ones. | ‘I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable’. – Jeremiah 2:7. |
| Conserve water | This one is a big one for me. It’s easy to forget that water can run out especially when we have an abundance of water flowing from our taps. Not only does water efficiency save on water bills for your parents, it ensures that the wildlife around us can survive, particularly when the land suffers from a drought. | ‘God called the dry ground ‘’land’’, and the gathered waters He called ‘’seas’’. And God saw that it was good.’ – Genesis 1:10. |
Although it may seem hard to keep up with the task God has set for us, remember He is always there to help you and to draw strength from.
Do you know any more tips on how to save our planet? If so please share with us in the comment section below!
3 comments
Denizli temizlik firmaları arasında özel bir yere sahip olduğumuzu düşünüyoruz ve daha önce bizden hizmet alan insanların yorumlarını incelerseniz bunu …
Way cool! Some very valid points!
I really enjoyed this piece. The reference to earthly occurrences and how they match up biblically was great! Thanks for sharing x