Owners and Authority
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Apr 13, 2023
- 2 min read
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:28)
God gave mankind dominion over everything on the earth. He gave us the authority to rule and reign over the fish of the sea, the fowl in the air, the cattle and everything on the earth. God brought everything to Adam and told him to name it. Whatever he declared they were, that is what they became.
However, God also gave Adam a choice. He told him that there was only one thing he couldn't have —the tree in the middle of the garden. God gave man a choice so he could be a free-will agent; He wanted to ensure that Adam would take care of what he was given. God wanted Adam to understand and treat the world as an owner, not just a renter. Renters often come into something and tear it up, not concerned about the condition or state of the thing they are renting since they are just going to give it back. Owners, on the other hand, understand the value of what they have and treat it with respect and care.
God has given us the authority to rule and reign over the earth. He has given us the power to subdue it and have dominion over every living thing. We have been given a mandate to steward the earth well, to cultivate it and to bring it forth to its full potential.
We have been called to be culture shapers, influencers, and ambassadors of the Kingdom of God amid a hurting and dying world. We have been given the responsibility to make a difference in the world, to bring the light and the life of Christ into every sphere of society.
As we fulfill our mandate to steward the earth well, we rule and reign with Christ, bringing His love and power to a hurting and broken world.
Practical Application
Just as God gave Adam dominion over the earth, we have been entrusted with the care and stewardship of the resources and relationships in our lives. We have been given much, and much is required of us. So, we should ask ourselves, how are we fulfilling our responsibility as stewards of what we have been given? Are we caring properly for our possessions, our relationships, and resources?
