Care for God's Creation
Bible Verse
The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to him. (CEV) Psalm 24:1
I grinned as I brought a big bag of gardening soil into a sparkling clean building on the Upper West Side. In our ministry’s after-school program, we were teaching the Parable of the Sower. It was almost mandatory that we plant seeds during activity time! Although it was a bit messy, the activity really brought the story to life for the children. They were so excited to take their projects home and watch them grow.
That day, I was reminded of the special joy kids feel when they learn the responsibility to care for God’s creation. This was not the newest Pokémon game or the latest doll craze. Dirt is truly the oldest toy in the book, and they couldn’t wait to play with it!
If we made the decision as families to turn our eyes away from screens to look towards our Creator, how would God open the eyes of our children to the beauty around us? Our kids would taste and see that the Lord is good, and they would seek to care for his creation. They would respect the earth and value the resources, animals, and people who fill it. This week, try these ideas to teach an appreciation of nature and good stewardship of our world to your kids.
Plant flowers outside or volunteer at a community garden. Keep track of your plants’ growth by keeping a journal or taking pictures. Take joy in watching God’s creation grow!
Decorate cans and repurpose them into herb planters. Discuss how reusing and repurposing items is a way we can respect our earth and be good stewards of our resources.
Teach recycling, composting, and minimizing waste in your home.
Visit a local farm or wild animal park and learn about the varieties of animals. How did God design each animal to be unique and special?
- Find instances in the Bible that teach us about God’s world. What does it mean to be a good steward of what he has given us?
In Genesis 1, notice how God’s creation was—and is—good! Adam and Eve were made in God’s image. What job did God give Adam and Eve?
In Psalm 19:1-4, David says that the heavens declare God’s glory. How does nature remind us of God? How does he want us to care for it?
Through the Bible, God instructs us in how to care for his world. Isaiah 28:29 says, “This wonderful knowledge comes from the Lord All-Powerful, who has such great wisdom.” As we seek this wisdom for ourselves, let’s pass it to the next generation by sharing the joy of good stewardship with our children. After all, each and every child belongs to God, and he smiles when we teach them to love what he loves and to care for his world!
Want to do a deep dive? Check out Family Fire's article
Areo Keller-Donahue
As soon as Areo could pick up a popsicle stick, she was making puppets and putting on plays that shared her faith with her neighbors. Areo grew up with a strong interest in musical theatre and earned her BFA at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Areo was led to use artistic gifts to share the gospel with young ones, and she became involved in ministry. She has worked in children's ministry at Redeemer Upper West Side and North Way Christian Community and is currently developing a musical live-action series that celebrates faith and fun. Areo and her husband live in Pittsburgh, where they enjoy spending time with their families and adorable cat, Daisy.
