Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:26-31
Genesis 1 tells us God created the entire universe, the earth and all living creatures before creating humanity. Yet, God tasked humans to subdue and exercise dominion over the rest of the earth. The word dominion means, “the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority” (Dictionary.com). Often, we read dominion as power, control, even domination, when the word also implies something else, stewardship—protection of something worth caring for and preserving.
God assigned humanity stewardship of creation. We were entrusted with ensuring the perpetual care and existence of every living thing and the resources to sustain their lives. Sometimes we think the earth and all that it contains belongs to us to do with it as we see fit. But it all belongs to God; we are just entrusted with its safekeeping.
What does stewardship of God’s creation look like? Certainly, it is personal conservation and recycling. It is expecting and demanding wise ecological stewardship by our elected leaders and the corporations in our economy. It is refusing to accept that business profitability and dividend returns are more important than our natural resources. Stewardship isn’t simply managing resources ourselves, it’s also teaching that same responsibility to future generations.
Why should this matter? Because in the United States, we hold 5% of the world’s population but consume nearly 25% of the world’s energy. Because in one day, we use more clean water to flush toilets, shower and water lawns than many people get to drink in weeks. Because the oceans in which we dump our trash, the plant and animal life that become extinct, and the air we pollute are not ours. Because it all belongs to God. And one day God will hold us accountable for what we did with this creation entrusted to us.
