In the primeval period, God gave instruction about the duty of mankind to his habitat, duty not abrogated in passing of time. It remains as divine command. The instruction to that first man is also ours. Adam was given the clear, succinct, and simple directive to do two things in relation to the world of nature of which he and his issue became a part. He was told to educate himself about the earth (know it) and to work with deliberate processes learned to keep it as pristine as possible (dress it). Such is mankind’s commission for an earthly inhabitant – to work in adapting to the raw product that God gave. To do that well a person has to be a learner of the laws that apply to creation, laws that when known and followed will provide an effective humane survival pattern. The instruction fulfills two important beliefs: that God is a God of order; and, that the earth can sustain its population if man works with nature – as the human condition was initially designed.
There is enough of everything for good living if the children are not prodigal. So mankind is to follow controlled habits, even to the disposal of garbage. We are to cleanse our bodies, eat no more than we need, and gather the leftovers (in baskets, at the feeding of the 5,000 – perhaps to feed the birds or fish, and clean up the site.) We are to practice moderation in all things, so not to take more than our share in the bounty. Our studies inform us about the benefits of clean living, clean water, and clean air. Cleanliness does have a relationship to godliness. Any failure, if failure follows, is in us as recalcitrant or ignorant or rebellious human beings. It is not in our stars, as some Romans cast it, nor in any paucity in creation. The animals, living on their own prove the world’s bounty. They tend to survive, even thrive, where they are not human prey.
The world requires proper stewardship for peaceful habitat. Selfishness both known and unknown sabotages stewardship. In that breakdown we invite tragedy leading to greed, to contamination, to waste, to shortages, to illness, to death. Despite our words, we seem to hold little serious thought for our future generations. Those generations, perforce, must take seriously some matters about which current generations may have been somewhat cavalier.
Stewardship partly relates to education. I am obligated to know what I am doing and what consequences may follow. I am obligated to what the nutritionist and physician told me when cancer and diabetes were diagnosed for me. I have lived energetically for many years beyond expectations by adapting to the order of God, as found in part in nature’s order which is often found in common sense, in the order of studied counsel including the Scriptures – and practiced. That belief led to changed conduct in exercise, nutrition, relationships, attitudes, even in spiritual growth. Obedience to truth, spiritual and natural, was strengthened. Each person must determine that he will live in the world of wonder based on reasonable decisions to advance through life as a steward of creation, in the uses of that creation, avoiding undue waste or plunder. To live the life of wonder is to be free to enjoy my part, and to respect the rights of others to gain what God meant for us. God meant for persons to look out for one another. We ought to deplore the acts of those who steal the rights of others to the good earth. May God forgive, and help the communities of mankind to mend their ways. Faith in God should make better citizens of us – in his created world. We remember that Eve was given to Adam to meet his need for relationship and perforce for him to meet hers, of the same kind. That unity of relationship extends to all creation, made practical in family and community experience. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020