How Do We Care For God’s World?
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
1 The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. 2 Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. 3 They don't speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. 4 Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world.
Psalm 19:1-4
Memory Verse
Job 12:7-10
7 If you want to learn, then go and ask the wild animals and the birds, 8 the flowers and the fish. 9 Any of them can tell you what the Lord has done. 10 Every living creature is in the hands of God.
What’s the difference between traveling by car and walking? (By “walking” or “hiking,” I mean getting outside and moving in whatever way works for you: walking, rolling in a wheelchair, or strolling with a stroller.) Sure, walking takes longer than a car ride. You trade speed and comfort for a slower walk and the fresh air outside from one place to another.
One thing I noticed while walking was that the people before me had left their garbage behind. There was trash in many places along the road and on the trail. Of course, that’s not how the world’s supposed to be.
How is it supposed to be? Picture a white sandy beach, a mountain-top lookout, or the spray of a waterfall. These places can help us imagine what the Garden of Eden looked like. The garden must have been an incredibly beautiful place that both God and people enjoyed. Genesis 1:31 says, “God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good!” God created the world and gave us the job of taking care of it for him. God wants us to respect nature: the air, water, trees, and the land. We’re not in charge of the world to do whatever we want.
So how do we care for God’s world?
- Spend time outside. Explore nature. Learn about God’s world.
- Let’s share the hiking trails, parks, and beaches with other people. Love your neighbor by being kind to the people working and having fun in the same places.
- Last of all, leave no trace that you were there. Take all your trash with you. Even better, bring extra bags along and help clean up.
Let’s leave God’s beautiful world better than we found it.
Prayer
Creator God, we can imagine some of the most beautiful places on this earth. It’s even better when we get to explore the forest, beaches, and parks near us. Thank you for these amazing spaces. Help us take care of what you made: the water, the trees, the land, and the air. Show us how to make good choices and care for the earth every day. Amen.Related Resources
Ron VandenBurg
Senior Producer of Children’s Ministry at ReFrame Ministries
Ron VandenBurg joined the ReFrame Ministries team in 2014. He plans and develops projects specifically for the spiritual formation of children. Before coming to ReFrame, Ron taught middle school for 27 years. Ron completed a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Teaching, Learning, and Development at Brock University. Ron and Rachel have five fantastic adult children and two grandchildren and reside in Ontario.