SAYS FYL

My scribbles while medidating

“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion…” — Genesis 1:28

God’s welcome speech to Adam and Eve begins much like His words to the birds and animals: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth!” (Genesis 1:22, The Message). But to humans He adds: “Take charge. Be responsible.”

With this added command, God wove an interdependence between His prized creation—humanity—and all the rest of creation. Plants and animals thrive when humans are faithful stewards of the fields, the skies, the waters, and the creatures placed in their care. In turn, creation sustains human life with fresh fruit for breakfast, clean air to oxygenate our blood, and the daily tasks that nudge us toward our 10,000 steps.

But this interdependence isn’t an excuse for laziness. It’s not for me to simply take and take and take. It’s a call to nurture my sense of stewardship, ownership, and the pockets of leadership God entrusts to me.

Here’s a simple way I think about it: God created both my cat and me. Clearly, He expects more from me than from my cat. Yet He also put the cat in my life as a bonus. (This is my personal take, of course.) In this interdependence, my cat enjoys a glorious life while I wait on him hand and foot. In return, I get snuggles and purrs that make life a little more meaningful.

It’s the same with my garden, my neighborhood, my church, my world. What I put into my world as God’s steward is returned tenfold and more. What a genius creation model—all of us interdependent in a healthy, supportive sort of way.

Featured image generated by AI

For other scribbles, go here.