STEWARDSHIP: The creation Mandate

“In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth.”

Gen 1:1

Everything Belongs to God

SO

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters

Ps 24:1-2

I am God, your God ... for every animal of the forest is

mine,and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird

in the mountains and the creatures of the field are mine.

Ps 50:7-11

'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. Haggai 2:8

o Mountainso Trees.o Flowers o Money o Possessions o Time o Talents o Spiritual Giftso Everything… is

God’s

Yes!Everything belongs to God

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the

earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the

ground."Gen 1:28. NIV

But the Creation Mandate made us Stewards of everything!

Stewardship of possessions is the “gift of God” Eccl. 5:19

The earth and its resources are entrusted to us.

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen. Rom 11:36

What do you have that you did not receive? 1 Corinthians 4:7

But what isSTEWARDSHIP

?

STEWARD One entrusted with caring for a

superior's goods.

STEWARDSHIP

The management of another person's property, finances, or household affairs

Adam was steward of the garden in which God had placed him.

Gen 2:15

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it

and take care of it.

However, sin has marred the image of god in humanity

The Fall broke relationship with God, ourselves, others

and the earth.

Jesus Christ came to redeem us so that we can experience the fullness

of what it means to be the image of God

and stewards of the created order.

But…

As redeemed humanity we can now resume our role as stewards of God’s creation, stewards of the resources and gifts entrusted to us by God.

We can live again in the garden atmosphere, caring for God’s handiwork, communing with Him and with each other

How can we become involved in taking care of the earth?

Energy ConservationWater conservationTree plantingGardeningRecyclingRefrain from burning

rubbish or cuttingsCommunity clean up

1 CORINTHIANS 4:2

“MOREOVER IT IS REQUIRED IN STEWARDS,

THAT A MAN BE FOUND FAITHFUL.”

1 Peter 4:10-11

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same

one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace

of God.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any

man minister, let him d o it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be

glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion

for ever and ever.

Enjoy His presence in the “Eden” of your own heart.

Johnvil