Observation: One of the most interesting concepts in the Hebrew Bible is the idea that the Sabbath is for all creation. It's not just for people: it's for animals, plants, and the land itself. And if God's people break the law by not observing the Sabbath--or by not allowing servants, animals or the land to observe it--then God will take the land away, and it will rest without people on it, until all the back-payments of lost Sabbaths are paid up.
Application: The History Channel had this fascinating series a few years back called "Life After People," in which the viewer goes on an imaginary tour through various centers of civilization in the days, weeks, months and years after humankind should instantly disappear. As you can imagine, in this alternate reality, it does not take long at all for nature to reclaim everything that humans built.
It's no secret that our sacred texts are written from a very human perspective, and place humankind at the center of a cosmic drama. Our faith teaches us that we are unique among creatures, made in God's image, able to understand our own existence in a way no other animal can, and tasked with caring for God's creation and stewarding it in God's place.
Still, the earth and all it holds still belongs to God. Scripture again and again reminds us that we are managers, not owners. At most, we're house-sitting, and it is indeed a marvelous home. However, God, the home-owner, has left very specific instructions for how to take care of things. We dare not treat every mountain, stream, ocean, and life form like our own possession, and work it seven days a week as we would a machine. Just as we need rest, so does the creation.
Prayer: God, help us be good stewards of the earth and all forms of life. Help us live in balance with all the wonderful creations you have made. Amen.
I try to be a good steward of all that God created. Some days I do better than others. When I see land being developed at such a rapid pace, especially in the area where we live, it seems there is no time for the land to rest. The same with when we drill for oil continually,frack, denude our forests and pollute our streams. There is hope though, as consciousness is raised and people work to keep our home, and all its inhabitants, healthy. It helps to read Scripture that gives us guidance for car of creation.
ReplyDelete