The Bible calls believers to care for God’s creation with responsibility and gratitude. Today, we’ll learn what Scripture teaches about stewardship of the earth and how we can honor God through it.
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What Does The Bible Say About Stewardship Of The Earth
Genesis 1:28
“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.’”
This verse establishes humanity’s responsibility to care for and responsibly manage the earth and its resources. It emphasizes the importance of stewardship and highlights our role as caretakers of God’s creation.
As stewards, it is our duty to exercise dominion over the earth in a way that promotes sustainability, preserves biodiversity, and ensures the well-being of present and future generations.
Psalm 24:1
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
This verse reminds us that God is the ultimate owner of the earth and everything in it. As stewards, we are entrusted with the responsibility to manage and nurture God’s creation for His glory.
We are called to recognize that our actions and treatment of the earth should reflect our acknowledgment of God’s ownership and our reverence for His creation.
Proverbs 12:10
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
This verse highlights the importance of responsible and compassionate stewardship towards animals. It reminds us that as stewards, we have a duty to care for the well-being and needs of the creatures entrusted to our care.
Our treatment of animals reflects our character and reveals our commitment to stewardship. Therefore, we are called to prioritize kindness and compassion in our interactions with the animal kingdom.
Leviticus 25:23
“The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers.”
This verse emphasizes the transient nature of human ownership of land. It teaches us that as stewards, we are temporary custodians of the land, and it ultimately belongs to God.
Our responsibility as stewards is to manage earthly resources in a way that respects God’s ownership and recognizes our status as temporary residents. This calls for responsible land use, sustainable practices, and consideration for the needs of future generations.
Psalm 104:24
“How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”
This verse acknowledges the wisdom and creativity of God in the abundance of life on earth. It points to the intricacy and diversity of God’s creation, highlighting the need for us to appreciate and steward it well.
Our role as stewards is to honor the beauty and complexity of God’s creation by nurturing and protecting the diverse ecosystems and creatures that inhabit the earth.
Genesis 2:15
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
This verse illustrates the early divine mandate for humans to care for the garden, representing the earth. It underscores the integral relationship between our work and responsibilities as stewards of creation.
As stewards, we are called to actively engage with the earth, cultivating and caring for it, ensuring its fruitfulness and sustainability.
Proverbs 27:23
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.”
This verse speaks to the importance of attentive and responsible stewardship over livestock and animals under our care.
As stewards, we must be diligent in assessing the well-being of the animals entrusted to us, ensuring their health, and meeting their needs with compassion and care.
Isaiah 24:4-6
“The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt.”
This passage reveals the devastating consequences of humanity’s failure to fulfill our role as responsible stewards of the earth. It demonstrates the interconnectedness of our actions and the health of the planet.
As stewards, it is crucial to recognize the impact of our choices on the environment and strive to live in harmony with God’s laws and principles of sustainability to avoid the devastating consequences of neglect and disobedience.
Psalms 115:16
“The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.”
This verse reminds us that God has entrusted the earth to humanity for our care and stewardship. It highlights the privilege and responsibility we have in managing and nurturing the earth for God’s glory.
As stewards, we should approach our role with gratitude, recognizing that the earth’s resources are a gift from God and should be used responsibly, justly, and sustainably.
Matthew 25:14-15
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one, he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.”
This parable of the talents illustrates the concept of stewardship and highlights our responsibility to effectively manage the resources entrusted to us.
As stewards, we are called to use our abilities, resources, and opportunities wisely, making the most of what we have been given for the betterment of the earth and God’s kingdom.
Deuteronomy 22:6
“If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young.”
This verse reflects the value of stewardship by demonstrating care and compassion for wildlife and their habitats.
As stewards, we have a responsibility to respect the natural processes and habitats of all living creatures, displaying kindness and consideration towards them.
Colossians 1:16
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
This verse declares that all things were created through Christ and for Him alone. It emphasizes that our stewardship of the earth is ultimately an act of worship and an expression of our devotion to God.
As stewards, our care for the earth is a reflection of our recognition and reverence for God’s handiwork and a demonstration of our love for Him.
Ezekiel 34:18
“Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?”
This verse rebukes the destructive behavior of irresponsible shepherds and symbolizes our responsibility to avoid wasteful and negligent practices.
As stewards, we are called to exercise restraint, ensuring that our actions and choices do not harm or degrade the earth, but instead preserve and protect its resources.
Romans 8:19-21
“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
This passage highlights that creation eagerly anticipates the restoration and liberation that will come with the revealing of God’s children.
As stewards, we work towards healing and renewal, recognizing that our efforts contribute to the restoration of the earth and its eventual liberation from decay and destruction.
Psalm 8:6
“You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:”
This verse emphasizes humanity’s role as rulers over God’s creation. It signifies the responsibility and authority we possess to govern the earth as stewards.
As stewards, we have a duty to exercise our authority with wisdom, humility, and a deep sense of accountability, ensuring that our actions contribute to the flourishing and well-being of all of God’s creation.
Romans 14:12
“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
This verse reminds us that ultimately, we are accountable to God for how we have stewarded the resources and entrusted responsibilities on earth.
As stewards, we should live with a heightened sense of responsibility, knowing that our actions and choices will be evaluated and that we are called to give an account for our stewardship.
Isaiah 40:11
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
This verse portrays the image of God as a shepherd, demonstrating His compassionate care and guidance for His creation.
As stewards, we are called to emulate God’s character, displaying kindness, compassion, and empathy towards all living beings under our care and actively seeking to protect and nurture them.
Matthew 6:26
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
This verse invites us to ponder the providence and care God displays towards His creation, even in simple examples like the provision of food for birds.
As stewards, we are called to trust in God’s provision and act as instruments of His care, ensuring that all living beings receive the necessary sustenance and resources for their well-being.
Jeremiah 2:7
“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.”
This verse laments humanity’s failure to steward the land and emphasizes the consequences of our actions.
As stewards, we should strive to honor God by respecting and caring for the earth, recognizing that our choices and practices can either preserve and enhance its fruitfulness or degrade and defile it.
Numbers 35:33-34
“Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.”
This passage underlines the significance of avoiding pollution and desecration of the land. It demonstrates the link between our actions and the condition of the environment.
As stewards, we should be diligent in our efforts to maintain the purity and integrity of the earth, recognizing that our actions not only affect the environment but also impact our relationship with God.
Job 12:7-10
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
This passage encourages us to learn lessons about stewardship and respect from observing and interacting with God’s creation.
As stewards, we should humbly seek wisdom from the natural world, recognizing the intricate interdependency of all living beings and gaining a deeper understanding of our role and responsibility as caretakers of the earth.
Deuteronomy 20:19
“When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?”
This verse highlights the importance of preserving and valuing the resources found in the natural world, even in times of conflict or hardship.
As stewards, we should adopt a mindset that seeks to preserve and conserve rather than exploit and destroy, ensuring the sustainable use of resources and considering the long-term implications of our actions.
Psalm 65:9-13
“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.”
This beautiful passage extols God’s provision and care for the earth, highlighting the flourishing and abundance that result from His blessings.
As stewards, we should recognize that God’s provision is ultimately the source of the earth’s fertility and abundance. We should therefore act in ways that honor and align with God’s gracious provision, promoting sustainability, and ensuring the flourishing of the earth and its inhabitants.
Revelation 11:18
“The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
This verse declares God’s judgment against those who harm and destroy the earth, highlighting the severity of neglectful and exploitative stewardship.
As stewards, we should heed this warning and actively work towards preservation, conservation, and restoration, recognizing our responsibility to protect the earth from destruction and degradation.