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Stewardship and the Environment
Memory Text: “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’ “(Genesis 1:28, NKJV).
This
week we continue with the more intangible things that God created during the
fall, but continue to this day. This
week we study Stewardship. The term
steward is defines as the manager of household or of household affairs 1a) esp.
a steward, manager, superintendent (whether free-born or as was usually the
case, a freed-man or a slave) to whom the head of the house or proprietor has entrusted
the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the
duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the
children not yet of age. Other uses of
the word include: 1. the manager of a farm or landed estate, an overseer; 2. A
treasurer; and 3, as a metaphor referring to the apostles and other Christian
teachers and bishops and overseers.
As we can see the steward works
for the owner. They work to do the
owners will. What we get from our study
is that whether good or bad, faithful or unfaithful, wise or wicked, all men
are stewards. The reason for this is
that we do not own anything. The Lord
says that, “all
the earth is mine” (Exodus 19: 5). Being
that we are part of the earth, we do not own ourselves. Something Paul echoes in,
1
Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your
body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Ellen
G. White expounds on this in Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 326-327.
“All
men have been bought with this infinite price. By pouring the whole treasury of
heaven into this world, by giving us in Christ all heaven, God has purchased
the will, the affections, the mind, the soul, of every human being. Whether
believers or unbelievers, all men are the Lord's property. All are called to do
service for Him, and for the manner in which they have met this claim, all will
be required to render an account at the great judgment day.”
This has implications for our
health. We read Again from Ellen White
two quotes regarding the importance of health and stewardship. Let us read them,
“Let none who profess godliness
regard with indifference the health of the body, and flatter themselves that
intemperance is no sin, and will not affect their spirituality. A close
sympathy exists between the physical and the moral nature. The standard of
virtue is elevated or degraded by the physical habits. Excessive eating of the
best of food will produce a morbid condition of the moral feelings. And if the
food is not the most healthful, the effects will be still more injurious. Any
habit which does not promote healthful action in the human system degrades the
higher and nobler faculties. Wrong habits of eating and drinking lead to errors
in thought and action. Indulgence of appetite strengthens the animal
propensities, giving them the ascendency over the mental and spiritual powers.”
COL p. 326 - 327
“Abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul,” is the language of the apostle Peter. Many regard
this warning as applicable only to the licentious; but is has a broader
meaning. It guards against every injurious gratification of appetite or
passion. It is a most forcible warning against the use of such stimulants and
narcotics as tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, and morphine. These indulgences may
well be classed among the lusts that exert a pernicious influence upon moral
character. The earlier these hurtful habits are formed, the more firmly will
they hold their victim in slavery to lust, and the more certainly will they
lower the standard of spirituality. “ Ellen G. White, The Review and Herald,
Jan. 25, 1881
So, our health is so much
dependent on what we eat, drink and breathe, the taking care of those resources
– air, food, and water - is important. Animals
are also implicated, since they also use those aforementioned resources, and
furthermore, many assist in making those resources useful to us. Many animals are useful to us also. According to Ellen White, abusing animals is not
only immoral and criminal, it is a sin. Let
us read,
“It is because of man's sin that
"the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together" (Romans
8:22). Suffering and death were thus entailed, not only upon the human race,
but upon the animals. Surely, then, it becomes man to seek to lighten, instead
of increasing, the weight of suffering which his transgression has brought upon
God's creatures. He who will abuse animals because he has them in his power is
both a coward and a tyrant.
A disposition to cause pain,
whether to our fellowmen or to the brute creation, is satanic. Many do not
realize that their cruelty will ever be known, because the poor dumb animals
cannot reveal it. But could the eyes of these men be opened, as were those of
Balaam, they would see an angel of God standing as a witness to testify against
them in the courts above. A record goes up to heaven, and a day is coming when
judgment will be pronounced against those who abuse God's creatures.”--PP 443
(1890). {2MCP 514}
Continuing with the topic of
abuse: we see in the parable of the wise and the wicked servant, that the
latter abuses his fellow servants. It is
not so with the wise one. Taking care of
others is a primordial goal of a good steward.
In fact, those who did so in Matthew 25: 31 - 46, were commended for helping
others in need. For which Christ said
that relieving others of their suffering is relieving Him of His
suffering. Ellen White says,
“Christ's followers have been
redeemed for service. Our Lord teaches that the true object of life is
ministry. Christ Himself was a worker, and to all His followers He gives the
law of service--service to God and to their fellow men. Here Christ has
presented to the world a higher conception of life than they had ever known. By
living to minister for others, man is brought into connection with Christ. The
law of service becomes the connecting link which binds us to God and to our
fellow men.”
To His servants Christ commits "His goods"--something
to be put to use for Him. He gives "to every man his work." Each has
his place in the eternal plan of heaven. Each is to work in co-operation with
Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is the place prepared for us
in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we
are to work for God. (COL 326 –
327).
As we can see stewardship is much more than finances. In fact, it so much more than the focus of
our lesson. But, this lesson gives us a
glimpse.
