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Written by Susan Scott Smith
“Don’t Mess With Texas” was a popular antilitter campaign slogan, but it seems like it’s being ignored by many now. How does God want us to treat His creation?
My husband and I took an extended trip this summer and enjoyed some of the most beautiful country in the southeastern United States.
However, in spite of the posted signs of “Don’t Mess With Texas” and other antilitter slogans, people still casually drop their litter (cigarette butts, fast-food wrappers, drink bottles, etc.) and then, like as not, criticize someone else for doing the same.
When I was younger, I do not remember as much litter on the landscape. Yes, there was some, but not the quantity I saw this summer. There are volunteers and roadside crews picking up litter on a regular basis, but they can’t keep up with it all.
A godly principle?
Is there any principle that applies to this? Is recycling a godly principle? In Genesis 2:15 God spells out one of the purposes for mankind’s placement on this earth: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (King James Version).
So Adam was told to “work it and take care of” the earth (New International Translation). This implied tilling it and protecting it and preserving it. I believe Adam’s commission to dress and keep the earth extends to me and should be a Christian value that I recognize goes beyond the physical to produce spiritual character.
Even though recycling and not littering are physical “green” things, there is a principle and value here that extends beyond the physical.
I am to treat others the way I want to be treated, so should I just discard my garbage on the roadside and leave it to someone else to pick up? Or should I recycle it so less goes into a landfill?
Sometimes we become careless with the precious creation around us. On the other hand, we certainly don’t want to go to the extreme of putting the creation before God.
What can I do?
What can we do individually (and collectively) that will make a difference in our world?
- Don’t litter.
- Help clean up your neighborhood.
- Recycle to reduce the amount going into landfills (an average of 4.6 pounds per American per day!). See the EPA website for tips for reusing, reducing and recycling.
- Don’t waste food, water, electricity or fuel.
Go the extra mile to preserve God’s wonderful creation and honor Him.
Susan Scott Smith is a third-grade teacher and a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in Texas.
See previous articles by Susan Scott Smith:
