Be a Steward of God's Creation

I attended a recognition awarding of partners for the environment yesterday in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It reminded me of an article I wrote in 2006. I'm reposting it below:

In this present generation, we hear a greater deal of environmental issues compared to any other time in history. Just 10 years ago, warnings of global warming were not taken seriously by some key countries, specially the United States, who would rather sacrifice the possibilities of the damaging effects of greenhouse gases in favor of its economy by not signing the Kyoto Protocol. Now, global warming is no fairytale, it is a fact. Global warming will happen. Actually, we are already experiencing some of it today. There are already symptoms of what is to come. We learn of polar caps melting, experience unusually hot days at certain times of the year, and visited by more typhoons in abnormal frequency, just to name a few.
It is not anymore a matter of preventing, but a matter of adapting. We can stop further damages to our ecology, but we will still experience many environmental back lashes caused by man’s irresponsibility and lack of action. In more than one way, all of us are guilty. So, what do we do about it? We follow God’s command for us.
“Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all living things that move on the earth.” Gen 1:28
From the very start, we are mandated to have dominion, to be stewards of His creation. In Couples for Christ, we are evangelized and brought to a community where we can all experience the love and support of our brothers and sisters. Yet, we also must remember to also love and support the rest of His creation. Here are compelling reasons why each should be challenged to be a steward of the environment:

7 reasons why we should be a STEWARD of the environment.

Supply is limited.
Natural resources can be classified as renewable and non-renewable. Renewable means that these resources can be replenished by means of natural cycles through water, air, plants, and animals. Non-renewable resources are those that once are used cannot be replenished. Examples of these are ores of different metals, coal, and oil. When we destroy the ways in which our natural resources will be replenished, through pollution, we might ran out. Ours is a finite earth. We all live in one planet and share the same resources.

Time is running out.
Everything must go somewhere.
The waste that we throw away does not disappear into oblivion. It goes somewhere else. Unless our waste is put into right use, it will cause problems like the plastics that clog up sewage, causing floods in urban areas. Harmful gases doesn’t just vanish into thin air, it contributes to the greenhouse effect that causes global warming.

We are all affected.
We are all living in a global ecosystem. Once a major change happens in one part of the world, then all of us get affected. The melting of the polar caps is rapidly increasing the sea levels, threatening the existence of some islands. The elimination of some animal species due to poaching can cause imbalance in an ecosystem by disturbing the natural food chain.

Apathy is widespread.
In spite of the many campaigns, reminders, and tips on saving the environment, still there are millions out there that think that it is someone else’s job to take care of nature. Many feel that they have bigger problems to tackle. If we do not convince others to be proactive for the environment, then we are fighting for a lonely cause.

Responsibility for God’s creation
We are not requested to be stewards of creation, we have been commanded. This should be reason enough to take care of nature. We must own up to our responsibility, for God entrusts us to love what He has wonderfully created. We hear of dynamite fishing, kaingin (slash and burn) farming, and illegal logging which violate our call to preserve and beautify nature.

Degradation of the quality of life.
Because of man’s sinfulness, we lost paradise. The slums that surround us are results of our greed and selfishness. Instead of building places of beauty, we breed depressed areas. In these places we see that trash and waste matters are dumped into the rivers. There are mounds of garbage in many different locations, swarmed by flies and mosquitoes that may bring disease.
With the above mentioned reasons, here are their respective action steps;

7 action steps in becoming a STEWARD of God’s creation.
1. Save as much as you can.
Save water, save trees, save electricity, save gas, save energy. Save, save, save. Conserve resources at all times.
2. Today is the day to start.
There is no better time to start than today. Each day that we delay our decision to help save the environment, affects our not so distant future.
3. Ecological Waste Management
Segregate! It is crucial to separate non-biodegradable and biodegradable wastes. Wastes such as plastic bottles can be recycled for profit, animal dung turned into fertilizers, and some hard plastics into containers. Segregation also lessens the collection of garbage in your neighborhood, leaving only residual wastes to be collected.
4. Work with others.
Since we are all affected, we should work with other groups. Not one group can solve the problem of the environment. Everyone should do their share and collaborate.
5. Advocate.
Education on the environment will help open the eyes of many people and move them into action. Be an advocate for the environment by first of all being an example. You can organize forums on the effects of global warming and how we can affect change in our simple ways. Turn the apathetic into energetic advocates.
6. Restore what has been ruined.
We are to restore what we have damaged and lost. Planting as many trees, helping preserve wildlife, actively reporting smoke belching, and reporting dynamite fishing are just some of the initiatives that we can do to help bring back and flourish our flora and fauna.
7. Develop environmentally healthy communities
By building communities, we are also helping save the environment. We give values formation to the homeowners as to handling proper waste disposal and becoming caretakers of the trees, plants, and animals in their surroundings. This way, we prevent diseases from spreading. We uplift the quality of life of the poor and empower them to be stewards of the environment.
“God looked at everything He had made, and He found it very good.” Gen 1:31
Let us not disappoint the Lord further. Honor God by loving His creation. We are preparing this world for our children to inherit. May they swim in clean waters, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the scenery of forest covered mountains because of what we have done in our lifetime. Never forget that the earth is our home, our oikos.