Apr24-30: The Environment

Teaching Points

1. Read Gen. 1:1; 2:15 and answer the following.

QUESTIONS:

• Who created the earth?
• Who was to care for the earth?
• Who does the earth belong to?

2. Read Ex. 20:3-17 and answer the following.

QUESTIONS:

• In what ways do the Ten Commandments protect the environment?
• What responsibilities to our environment could be enjoined in the Ten Commandments?
• How does forgetting our Creator and the Sabbath affect our environment?  
• How does disrespect for parents, others property, and life itself affect our environment?

3. What happened as a direct result of sin? 

ANSWER:

• Gen. 3:14--19—The ground and snakes were cursed, pain in child bearing, and hatred between God’s people and Satan’s followers.
• Gen. 3:18—thorns and thistles 

4. What has happened in the animal kingdom?

ANSWER:

• Gen. 9:2—animals and man fear each other.
• Rom. 8:22—the whole creation groans and travails.  

OBSERVATION:

• God owns this earth.
• God has placed humans as stewards of His creation.
• The Ten Commandments directly affect how we treat God’s creation.
• If we reject the fact of creation and the Sabbath we no longer have a guard for the family and time together—which leads to crumbling families; and we no longer have respect or value for the amazing person that God created us to be and all creation.
• If we reject our Creator, we have no need or true value for any of His laws.
• Because of sin all of creation suffers and is under the curse of sin. 

5. What is required of us as stewards of the earth?

ANSWER:

• 1 Cor. 4:2—stewards must be faithful.
• 1 Pet. 4:10—We are stewards not just of earthly things but also God’s grace.

6. How will God deal with unfaithful stewards who destroy the earth?

ANSWER:

• Rev. 11:18—God will destroy those that destroy the earth. 

7. Will anything be hurt, killed, or destroyed in the New Earth?

ANSWER:

• Isa. 11:9; 65:25—Nothing will hurt or destroy
• Isa. 11:7—bears and lions will be vegetarians
• Isa. 65:25—wolves and snakes will be vegetarian/dirt eating. 

8. Will there be any sickness, pain, death, or sin in the New Earth?

ANSWER:

• Rev. 21:4—no pain, death, sorrow, or crying
• Isa 33:24—no sickness and iniquity is forgiven.

OBSERVATION:

• As stewards of God’s creation we are required to faithfully care for the earth.
• If we do things that destroy this earth, which are not necessary to living, then God will destroy us.
• Nothing will hurt or destroy in the earth made new.
• Even the meat-eating animals today will be vegetarians.
• There will be no more sickness, pain, sorrow, death or sin in the New Earth or heaven.                                                                                     

THOUGHT QUESTIONS:

• What choices can you make that will help take better care of the earth?
• What choices can you make that will help protect the animals from suffering?
• What can you do to help yourself and others take better care of the earth?
• How will living Christian and sharing Christ aid in limiting suffering on this earth?

9.  What special encouragement is giving to those who take care of little things?

ANSWER:

• Luke 16:10, 11—Those faithful in the little things will be faithful in big things and counted worthy of eternal riches.

OBSERVATION:

• Jesus wants us to be faithful.
• Faithful habits start with little things and as we learn to take care of little things in life then we can be trusted with greater riches—eternal life.

SOP

• If men would do their duty as faithful stewards of their Lord's goods, there would be no cry for bread, none suffering in destitution, none naked and in want. It is the unfaithfulness of men that brings about the state of suffering in which humanity is plunged. If those whom God has made stewards would but appropriate their Lord's goods to the object for which He gave to them, this state of suffering would not exist. The Lord tests men by giving them an abundance of good things, just as He tested the rich man of the parable. If we prove ourselves unfaithful in the righteous mammon, who shall entrust us the true riches? It will be those who have stood the test on the earth, who have been found faithful, who have obeyed the words of the Lord in being merciful, in using their means for the advancement of His kingdom, that will hear from the lips of the Master, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things."--Review and Herald, June 26, 1894.  {RC 227.6}
• Let the diet reform be progressive. Let the people be taught how to prepare food without the use of milk or butter. Tell them that the time will soon come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter, because disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of the iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan under the diseases that curse our earth.  {7T 135.1} 
• We see in the broken face of nature, in the cleft rocks, in the mountains and precipices, that which tells us a great wrong has been done, that men have abused God's gifts, forgotten the Creator, and that the Lord was grieved and punished the wicked transgressors of His law, and as the result we have its effects in creation. Storms rage with destructive violence. Harm comes to man and beast and property. Because men continue to transgress God's law, He removes their defense. Famine, calamity by sea, and the pestilence that walketh at noonday, follow because men have forgotten their Creator. Sin, the blight of sin, defaces and mars our world, and agonized creation groans under the iniquity of the inhabitants thereof. God has given us faculties to be cultivated, to be improved to His glory and for eternity.  {2MR 308.1}
• The race is groaning under its weight of accumulated woe, because of the sins of former generations. And yet, with scarcely a thought or care, men and women of the present time indulge intemperance by surfeiting and drunkenness, and thereby leave, as a legacy for the next generation, disease, enfeebled intellects, and polluted morals.  {ST, October 31, 1878 par. 3}  

 CONCLUSION:

• God created the earth and He owns it.
• We have been entrusted as stewards to care for the earth.
• The Ten Commandments are a special guard for God’s people and creation but if rejected than the value of life and all God’s creation is lost sight of. 
• Because of sin all creation is suffering under the curse.
• As stewards God requires us to be faithful in caring for the earth.
• God will destroy those destroy the earth.
• The New Earth and heaven will have nothing that will hurt or destroy; there will be no death or pain or sin—even the animals will be vegetarian! 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Are you doing all you can to relieve suffering of animals and humans?
• Are there habits that could be changed so that fewer animals must suffer?
• Are you asking that God will help you be a faithful steward?
• Have you committed your possessions to Him and do you seek to faithfully take care of those things?
• Are you seeking to save as many souls from destruction as possible?