Earth: God's Creation and Our Stewardship

This is the physical world as opposed to the heavens, which were also created by God (Gen 1:1; Ps 115:15). Because of the curse of sin, the whole earth is functioning far below God's intention (Gen 3:17-19; Rom 8:20-22).

God's Ownership and Our Response

The earth and all it contains is the Lord's as He made it (Ps 24:1). God declares, "I will be exalted in the earth" and we can respond, "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth" (Ps 46:10, 57:5,11, 72:19). "The earth is full of God's unfailing goodness...Let all the people stand in awe of Him" (Ps 33:5,8). As His people, we are called to be faithful stewards of His creation, caring for the environment and all living creatures as an act of worship and obedience.

God said all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through Abraham (Gen 12:3). One of his descendants was Jesus – the one who provides salvation from the penalty of sin for all who desire it and live for Him. This blessing extends beyond spiritual salvation to include the restoration of all things when Christ returns, bringing renewal and hope to the whole earth.

Leave the earth a better place than when you arrived

This calling to stewardship extends to all resources entrusted to us – our time, talents, finances, and material possessions. Jesus taught that "to whom much is given, much will be required" (Lk 12:48), reminding us that faithful management of these resources reflects our trust in God's provision and our love for others.

Praying for God's Will on Earth

Jesus said, we are to pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Mt 6:10). When that happens, He stated 'the meek will be blessed for they shall inherit the earth' (Mt 5:5). This prayer is not merely a wish but a declaration of our commitment to participate in God's redemptive work in the world. As we seek His kingdom first, we become agents of His peace, justice, and love in our communities, workplaces, and relationships.

We have our part to fulfil

The New Heaven and New Earth

At the end of the world as we know it, God will create a new heaven and a new earth (Isa 65:17, 66:22; 2 Pet 3:7-13; Rev 21:1). However, before then the gospel will be preached throughout the whole world (Mt 24:14). Due to the rapid advances in technology and linguistics, this is fast becoming a reality.

Reflection and Application:

How can you be a better steward of God's creation in your daily life?
What practical steps can you take to care for the environment as an act of worship?
In what ways does understanding God's ownership of the earth change your perspective on material possessions?
How can you participate in spreading the gospel to all nations?