Environmental Stewardship: Our Biblical Responsibility to Care for God's Creation

As caretakers of God's creation, we are called to balance our responsibility for the physical environment with our commitment to spiritual purity, recognising that the earth is a temporary home pointing us toward eternal truths.

Our Mandate as Earth's Stewards

God created the world and instructed Adam to care for the earth and its resources (Gen 1:26,28, 2:15). We are to wisely utilise and gain sustenance from the world's resources and assets sustainably rather than abuse, with little regard for the future, by wasteful exploitation. Pollution is harmful to humans, the complete food chain and the whole world (Deut 20:19). This biblical mandate establishes humanity's role as responsible caretakers rather than careless consumers of creation.

The concept of stewardship implies that we do not own the earth but manage it on behalf of its Creator. This perspective shifts our approach from exploitation to careful cultivation, ensuring that resources are preserved for future generations. Sustainable practices reflect wisdom and foresight, recognising that our actions today have lasting consequences for the world we leave to our children and grandchildren.

Guarding Against Spiritual Pollution

As Christians, we should be concerned about the environment, but more importantly our spiritual lives, not allowing the pollution of the world's system to defile us – through TV, magazines, internet, entertainment and friends. Don't compromise Bible principles or absorb any destructive values from those you mix with – refuse to allow the world to squeeze you into its mould (Rom 12:1-2).

While we should protect the world as good stewards, we are to worship the creator not the creation as many mistakenly "worship and serve created things rather than the Creator" (Rom 1:25). The proper perspective is to see beyond the physical world to the loving God who made these things and desires a relationship with us. People who will last for all eternity are more valuable to Him than animals or things.

Value and respect your natural surroundings but only worship God

This balanced approach prevents us from falling into either extreme – neglecting our environmental responsibilities or elevating nature to the status of divinity. The physical world, while beautiful and valuable, remains a creation pointing us toward the Creator. Our primary worship must always be directed toward God, even as we appreciate and care for His handiwork.

The Temporary Nature of Creation

Environmentalists are consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever, yet this is not God's plan. The physical, natural earth in its present form, and in fact the entire universe will be destroyed, and God will create a "new heaven and a new earth" (2 Pet 3:10,13; Rev 21:1). This eternal perspective does not negate our responsibility to care for creation but rather places it within its proper theological framework.

Understanding that the current creation is temporary helps us maintain appropriate priorities. While we work to protect and preserve the environment, we recognise that ultimate solutions to environmental problems will be found in God's future redemption rather than merely human efforts. This hope motivates our stewardship without leading to despair when facing environmental challenges.

Reflection and Application:

Examine your daily habits and consumption patterns to identify areas where you can practice better environmental stewardship.
Evaluate the media and entertainment you consume, considering whether they introduce spiritual pollution into your life.
Consider how you can balance concern for the environment with maintaining proper worship directed toward God alone.
Reflect on how the temporary nature of creation influences your priorities and perspective on environmental issues.