The Stewardship of Creation

Carrying out the charge

            In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  He also created mankind and then proceeded to put us in charge of taking care of His created world.  As stewards, literally slaves, we are responsible for overseeing God’s creation until He returns to claim it.  Besides the care of that creation, we have been given full use of God’s world to enjoy as our own.  This is a heavy responsibility.  God was wise in setting things up in this manner.  In our experience, we have learned that people, generally, take better care of their own things then they do of others’ possessions.  And our God is not a stingy God.  He really means for us to enjoy His created world as our own.  So, how do we proceed?

            To begin with, we simply appreciate the gift God has bestowed on us.  We can accept the world as our own and use it to its fullest potential.  Mankind has discovered many resources and hidden treasures and secrets of our planet.  In reality, God is revealing aspects of His creation to us as we need them and are able to handle them.  The bible shows us that God’s relationship with us is as Father to children.  When we think of things in that context, we realize that God conducts Himself as we do with our children; giving increasing responsibility as development occurs.  By seeing our stewardship in this light, we are shown two aspects of our responsibility.

 First, we realize that we have been given a great honor to care for God’s created world.  Therefore, we take that responsibility seriously and carry it out as best we are able.  We learn about our planet. We use common sense and do not waste or abuse the gift entrusted to us.  We find ways to help resources continue to be available for future generations.  As we utilize this gift, we try to keep it as clean and unblemished as possible.  We take pride in our work and respect God’s possession.

Second, we accept the gift as our own to enjoy its abundance.  In using a gift, it will lose its new appearance.  Which is better to look at a bible that has never been opened, or a bible that is worn, torn and dog-eared?  Obviously, the used bible has been of much more use to its owner.  In the same way our gift of creation is to be used.  Sometimes our use of God’s resources may seem to deplete or harm our world.  At these times we need to pray for guidance, use the reasoning God has given us, and in Luther’s words, “Sin bravely.”  God’s creation is much bigger that us, and as God is forgiving, His creation is forgiving.  Mankind is not able to destroy what God has created and decided to sustain.  In fact, when we start believing that we can irreparably harm the planet, we set ourselves above God.

            We must remember that we are also a part of God’s creation that we are called to be stewards over.  Therefore, we should learn about our individual resources and use them to the glory of God.  We were not created to sit on a shelf, but to exercise and share our gifts in extending God’s Kingdom.  These involve our talents, our time, our thoughts and reasoning, and our monetary resources.  Care for the gift.  Use the gift.  And God will bless us with His comforting words, “Well done, good and faithful steward.”

John Piper