Why Should We Care About Our Environment?
A Lesson from John Ortberg
Christ taught us the two biggest commandments are to love God and our neighbors. (Matthew 22:36-40). If so, why should we care about our environment or animals?
One reason is because God loves them. After God had created the universe, He considered the creation very good (Genesis 1:31). Moreover, He loved them. In the famous verse, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world,” the word world in the original Hebrew means the cosmos, which include our world, our environment.
If our boss loves something and considers it very good, shouldn’t we care for it also?
Another reason we should care for our environment is because that was the original job God assigned humans to do. When God created man in His image, God commanded him to rule over the creatures (Genesis 1:26). The word rule in the original Hebrew means being a viceroy, or a person representing the king when the king is away. So, on behalf of God, humans should take care of the creatures on earth, which God also had expressed His concern for (Jonah 4:11).
Furthermore, God’s creation is full of wonders. There are numerous passages in the Bible admiring them. One example is the six verses in Psalms19, where David was in awe of God’s physical creation, including the heavens, the skies, and the sun. If we truly marvel our environment as the incredible work of the Creator, naturally we will take care of it.
In conclusion, we live in a world created and cherished by God, who has entrusted it to humans. Learn to meditate on, cherish, and take care of the environment.
Summarized from a John Ortberg sermon:
https://menlo.church/series/thats-a-great-question#/modal/message/4988/mlo
One reason is because God loves them. After God had created the universe, He considered the creation very good (Genesis 1:31). Moreover, He loved them. In the famous verse, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world,” the word world in the original Hebrew means the cosmos, which include our world, our environment.
If our boss loves something and considers it very good, shouldn’t we care for it also?
Another reason we should care for our environment is because that was the original job God assigned humans to do. When God created man in His image, God commanded him to rule over the creatures (Genesis 1:26). The word rule in the original Hebrew means being a viceroy, or a person representing the king when the king is away. So, on behalf of God, humans should take care of the creatures on earth, which God also had expressed His concern for (Jonah 4:11).
Furthermore, God’s creation is full of wonders. There are numerous passages in the Bible admiring them. One example is the six verses in Psalms19, where David was in awe of God’s physical creation, including the heavens, the skies, and the sun. If we truly marvel our environment as the incredible work of the Creator, naturally we will take care of it.
In conclusion, we live in a world created and cherished by God, who has entrusted it to humans. Learn to meditate on, cherish, and take care of the environment.
Summarized from a John Ortberg sermon:
https://menlo.church/series/thats-a-great-question#/modal/message/4988/mlo