26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28
God delegated his authority to mankind to “rule over” and to “subdue” the earth. Yet we have abused that role – we’ve caused pollution and destruction almost everywhere.
As Christians, we should take seriously our responsibility in this custodial role – to the point of cooperating with initiatives such as recycling and waste reduction.
However, this should never become our main goal. Our primary objective as Christians is to live in such a way as to bring honour and glory to the name of Jesus. Included in that is the mandate to “preach the gospel” to everyone.
– SSxG