We will care for creation and all God’s gifts.
Genesis 1:26-28 New International Version
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
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.”
Genesis45:3-11,15;Psalm37:1-11,39-40;1Corinthians15:35-38,42-50;Luke6:27-38;
Comment:
Caring for God's Creation is assumed in the old testament and in the new. It is seen through the eyes of agriculture and farming. It is seen locally as opposed to globally, aside perhaps for Genesis 8:22.
22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.”
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.
Genesis 3:23
So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken
Genesis 8:22. New International Version
22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.”
Exodus 23:10-11
New International Version
Sabbath Laws. 10 “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.
Deuteronomy 22:9
Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled
Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
2 Timothy 2:6. New International Version
6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
Comment:
Many hymns speak of the wonder of creation.
Hymn by Joachim Neander
1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.
2 Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?
3 Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.
4 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.
All Things Bright And Beautiful
Refrain;
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
he made their glowing colors,
he made their tiny wings.
(Refrain)
The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning
that brightens up the sky.
(Refrain)
The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden,
he made them every one.
(Refrain)
He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well.
(Refrain)
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
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Comment:
So we know from Genesis that God wants humanity to subdue and care for the Creation
Qu? But what actually do we understand as being the creation which humanity is tasked by God to Care for?
For example is it only the creation as it applies to planet earth.
Is our care to be only earthbound? What about space junk in orbit around the earth, what about other planets themselves, the risk of visiting space craft or adtronsuvhts contaminating other planets with bugs. How far does this injunction to care for creation go;
If it extends to the planets within our solar system does this injunction to care extend also beyond this outstar systems and galaxies?
Is that a presumption and an arrogance or is it a responsible response to God's expectations of us?
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Qu? We are also enjoined to care for "all God's Gifts"?
What are these?
How do we care for them ?
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Prayer and Benediction