DAY 21: Stewards of the environment

Reading: Psalm 24:1-10
‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live
in it’ v1
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
    and established it on the waters.

 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not trust in an idol
    or swear by a false god.[a]

 They will receive blessing from the Lord
    and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek your face, God of Jacob.[b][c]

 Lift up your heads, you gates;
    be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord strong and mighty,
    the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory.

 This psalm was probably used as part of the liturgy, an entrance psalm
calling people to worship, perhaps at harvest time. It reminds us that
everything is the Lord’s. The Lord God is the creator and sustainer
of this wonderful world in which we live. In Genesis we are told that
humankind is to work in partnership with God as stewards of the earth,
responsible for the whole created order. Formed in His image, we have
to take responsibility, not just for the created order, but for what we
consume by using scarce resources. What we put back into the world
is an important dimension of stewardship.
What we use and how we use resources can have an impact on other
people. In particular, a major impact on people in other countries. So
cutting our consumption of vital resources, reusing and recycling, is as
much part of our call to be a disciple as the creative and generous use
of our financial resources.
So, as Christians, it is important to develop a holistic approach to how
we live and use all that God has entrusted us with.

 For further Reading: Jeremiah 12:1-13 - God's concern that human sin impacts the
earth, plants and animals.
To Ponder: What steps will you take to adjust your life so it does not have
an adverse impact on the world and other people?
To Pray Lord Jesus, you have made us stewards of the created order,
help me to be mindful of this responsibility as I pursue my daily
life. Amen.

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