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Hey All! Hope everyone is doing well! In this article, I’d like to talk a bit about stewardship and how each and every one of us needs to have a sense of stewardship when it comes to our planet. Merriam-Webster defines stewardship as: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially, the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.
However, because this website has a decidedly Judeo-Christian worldview, I need to define what I mean by stewardship, management, and tending to this beautiful world that we’ve been given.
Genesis 1:28 explicitly sets out God’s command to us at creation: “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.’”
To subdue the earth…what does that mean exactly? Basically it means to bring it under control by a force of will, to prepare it for the growing of crops, for habitation, for living. Like anyone given authority over something however, we can abuse the privilege we’ve been given. Subduing and ruling does not mean abuse and wanton disregard for the needs of the animals, plants, and other people that surround us. This is still God’s earth – we are merely the caretakers.
We all impact our planet in one way or another; we all leave the effect of our passing in everything we do or say. The trick is to leave the most constructive effect you can. This is done by understanding that every action has a reaction, and trying your best to make sure that any action you take will have a positive reaction and/or impact on your environment. Leading by example is one of the best ways to teach others, as is this format which allows me to come here and share with you the things that I’ve learned.
We humans are not a blight on the earth that so many environmentalists would have you believe. The natural order of things is entropy – without order and direct care, all environments degrade. Our task is to use our skills and talents to tame the environment that surrounds us, to bring order to chaos, and to cultivate those qualities that stand us in good stead and allow us to survive.
