What does the Bible say about being green?

Have you ever wondered if being environmentally conscious is biblical? I have. I struggle sometimes as a homeschool mom with the whole, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." I am not a tree hugger, but I'm not deliberately wasteful either. (I turn off the water while I'm brushing my teeth. Thank you very much.) I just know that mankind is not going to "save the Earth." II Peter 3:10 states, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." God is sovereign. Praise the Lord! So, with all the talk on the news and TV about the myriad of environmental issues; ozone layer, global warming, recycling, toxic levels of fuels from vehicles/factories, etc.. it is necessary for Christians to know exactly what the Bible states about these concerns, how we are to respond to them, and our responsibilities.

In Genesis 2:15, God established man as the care-taker of the earth. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." So what does that mean to us now? The obvious, we mow our lawns, weed (or is it de-weed) our gardens. The not so obvious, we keep our vehicles in good repair so they don't leak fluids or gases. The list goes on.

Moving to Psalm 8:6-8, God states we are to have dominion, or to be stewards of His created world. "You (God) have given him (man) dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas." WE are the managers, or stewards. WE, mankind, are the decision makers, not animals, plants, or vapors in the air. This is a huge responsibility. And when deciding how best to steward God’s resources, we must remember, Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.” We don’t want man’s praise to influence our decision making, we want God’s glory to define it!

Finally, according to Jesus, in Matthew 20:28, we are servants. “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” and then again in John 13:15, after He had washed the disciples feet…. “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” We must be willing to serve others with the resources God has entrusted us. Clean up litter off the highway, plant a tree in a park, recycle your Coke cans, or volunteer your time at a local food bank.

Whether you recycle your cans, make your own compost, or carry reusable grocery bags, just remember we are just the caretakers, stewards and servants of God’s creation, not the owners. It all belongs to Him. The best way we can thank Him for the gifts He has allowed us to use it to glorify Him with them.