Stewardship

Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over every living creature — this is one of the most misread verses in Genesis, and it matters enormously how we read it. Subdue and dominion are strong words, and they have been used to justify environmental destruction and exploitation. But the context corrects this. A king who subdues a territory is responsible for its flourishing, not just its productivity. He is a steward, not an owner. Humanity is given authority over creation not to consume it without limit but to manage it on behalf of the Creator who owns it. We hold the earth in trust. That means the way we treat the natural world — every resource we use, every piece of land we touch — is a matter of faithfulness to the one who made it and gave it to our care.