I get letters, lots and lots of letters. Most of the letters I get are appeals for money. They come from the National Audubon Society, the conservancies, state, national and world wildlife federations, the Sierra Club and more.  If I give a certain amount of financial support, as a member I can choose from a variety of gifts, each emblazoned with their emblem. I’m inundated with such solicitations. It’s not that I don’t endorse what they’re trying to accomplish, I do, and I would like to give to all of them. I don’t have unlimited financial resources, so I do what I can, where I can, as I can.

There is a mandate from God given to us in the Bible. It makes us caretakers of the environment. It says in Genesis, chapter one, that we are to “Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals” (1:28, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION).

As Creator of it all, God holds the patent. To us God has assigned the responsible management of these natural resources. They are ours to use and not to abuse. Therefore it is wise to protect our environment and responsibly manage our resources because we are ultimately accountable to God.

Not only so, but if we read the creation account (Genesis 1) we realize that things are interdependent, not independent of each other. An action results in a chain reaction. Furthermore, our very life is dependent upon clean air and water and the responsible management of the birds and fish and animals, all the natural resources upon which we depend.

Let’s all do our part to be the caretakers of the environment that God intends us to be.  Life depends on it. 

Retired Baptist Pastor, Dr. Darryl E. Maxwell