“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” —John Muir
thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also many animals?” (Jon. 4:11). The book concludes with God’s intriguing reminder that He cares not only for the wicked Ninevites, but also the animals. The psalmist already expressed the same sentiment: “Your righteousness is like the great mountains. . . . O LORD, You preserve man and beast . . . The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Ps. 36:6; 145:9, emphasis added).
In language remarkably similar to Noah’s Covenant, Hosea promises that ultimately, creation’s original perfection will be restored. “In that day I will make a covenant for them, with the beasts of the field, with the birds of the air, and with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, to make them lie down safely” (Hos. 2:18). (To be continued next month)
A potpourri of practical ideas to help you become a better steward.
August 2014 Volume 19, Issue 8
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP By Jo Ann Davidson, PhD Introduction by Dr. Gordon Botting: The media bombard us with daily news on environmental challenges. Various pollutions and unwanted chemicals are found in our homes and vehicles that affect each of us, whether we live in the country or in the city. Currently, there is a new push among Christians entitled Creation Care, which is an ecology movement that sees the guardianship of our earth as part of the Great Commission. As Seventh-day Adventists, we are also concerned about environmental stewardship. We believe that the world has an exalted standing by being divinely created. Yet, we often have been slow to connect the two and acknowledge that stewardship involves more than our money and time. In a two-part series, Dr. Jo Ann Davidson, Professor of Systematic Theology at Andrews University Theological Seminary, will present an impressive environmental linkage from the first chapter of Scripture to the end of the book of Revelation.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP - Part 1
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“Sabbath observance has the potential to release the depth and meaning of God’s many blessings at work within creation ...” Norman Wirzba, Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight, p. 15.
“The good man is a friend of all living things.” —Gandhi Distributed by: General Conference Stewardship Ministries Director: Erika F. Puni Produced by: Pacific Union Conference Stewardship Department Director: Gordon Botting Design/Assistant Editor: Maricel Felarca
As Genesis opens, God exuberantly endorses everything He makes as “good/very good!” Both animals and human beings are created by God’s hands from the “dust of the earth,” given the “breath of life” (Gen. 2:7, 19; cf. Eccl. 3:19-20), a violent-free diet, and identical blessings (Gen. 1:22, 28). This implies, at the very least, divine appreciation of them all.
Later, Noah is told by God to take his family and animals into the ark “to keep this kind alive upon the face of all the earth” during a global catastrophe (Gen. 7:3). In the midst of the deluge, “God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark” (Gen. 8:1). After exiting the ark, the animals are explicitly included by God in the covenant:
Stewardship is a total lifestyle. It involves our health, time, talents, environment, relationships, spirituality, and finances.