Stewardship

While I mentioned in a previous post about God's assignment to Adam to name all of the animals, the very first assignment Adam was given was to view Creation with a sense of stewardship.  "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15)  God's instruction was to work the land and take care of it (stewardship).

My impression is that when many believers hear the word "stewardship", they think of financial issues.  Absolutely, money is one of those gifts that God blesses us with.  But stewardship applies beyond finances.  God has also blessed us with an Earthly home, and it requires stewardship as well.  However, it is hard to take care of Creation if you do not know what is in it, just as it is hard to be a good steward of money if you never check the account balance.

This is why it is so important to notice the Creation that surrounds us in our homes and communities.  Frequently we have beautiful and incredible things right outside our door, if only we took the opportunity to look. 

Below is a picture of a mating pair of Orange Bluets.  I took the photo at North Shields Pond in Ft. Collins, Colorado.  I just recently learned that this photo is documentation of a new county record for Larimer County, Colorado.  Nobody had ever reported an Orange Bluet from that county before.  While it is kind of cool to have my name attached with such a thing, I think the bigger statement is that there was something new and exciting hanging out in the North Shields Pond, just waiting for somebody to notice.  What exciting things are waiting to be noticed just outside your back door!?