Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Stewards of God’s
Creation
(World Environment Day)
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in
the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (V.22)
Stewardship is an important part of Christian life
that is too easily forgotten. In this passage we can see how God has called all
of us to be His stewards of creation. What does this mean? We live in a life
where we are responsible for many things. We are responsible for taking care of
our work responsibilities, our children, parents, significant others, friends;
the list goes on and on. Yet what is our role in God’s creation?
The
initial “creation” was perfect; every step of the way God saw that it was good.
However, due to man’s incapability to be content and rely on God, the creation
was subjected to an imperfect state. This confirms that idea that stewardship
has been misunderstood from the very beginning of time. God created us all to
promote growth and spiritual wholeness, but that is not the world that we live
in today. Our lives often promote destruction and spiritual abandonment. In v.
21, it states that even creation is longing for liberation from bondage and
decay, as if the creation is fed up with the created.
Apostle
Paul is reminding us, the created, of what our role in this life is. We are
called to be stewards of God’s creation! We are called to promote, represent,
and BE what God intended from the beginning. Instead, we are stewards of our
own creation and will. A steward is responsible and entrusted to make sure
things are done in the right way. He/she is responsible for leading, guiding,
and setting good examples for others to see. We must remind ourselves that we
are stewards of God’s creation and not our own.
All is not lost! Despite all the “badness” in this world, we the first
fruits of the Spirit are called to spread hope. In order for us to accomplish
this we must be sure that we are living in that hope! We must understand and
believe that through Christ’s life, we have been blessed with salvation through
grace allowing us to live in hope. Next, we must understand and realize
that this hope is not for us alone. For salvation, through Christ’s grace, is a
costly gift that all mankind is undeservingly offered. We, the first fruits,
are its stewards. The passage reminds us that we must wait patiently, but many
times we as Christians confuse this with waiting idly. We have been entrusted
with the Spirit because God relies on us to pass this hope with those we come
into contact with. Are we living as true first fruits of the spirit? Do
we really have a hope that is rooted in Christ? What kind of stewards are we?
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to live my life with the hope
you have given me through grace. Remind me daily that this hope, grace, and
love was given to me so that I can share it with others. Help me to be a
steward of your creation instead of my own. Amen.
Thought for the day: “We are God’s stewards in
this world to bring the wise, healing, restorative divine justice to the whole
created order.”
Gracious John, St.
Andrews MTC, New York