In the past the articles in this space have discussed stewardship within the context of money.  Stewardship, however,  should not be so limited  because it means much more.  A comprehensive definition is taking care of and wisely using all of God’s gifts.  As I’ve mentioned in several articles, God expects us to use our financial gifts to further His work.  We’ve discussed applying the stewardship concept to our time and talents.  So, yes, when we as a church discuss stewardship we usually talk about money and our time and talents.

This month I would like you to consider expanding your concept of stewardship to include our environment– the world that God has provided for us.  I remember a commercial that was running on TV when I was growing up.  A Native American was standing on the shore of a stream that was littered with garbage; a single tear rolled down his face.  I sometimes wonder what God is feeling as he looks upon His earth today.  We have smog so thick in some cities that you can’t see the sky.  The rain forest is being logged at an unbelievable rate, leading to increased carbon dioxide levels and climate change.  Oil pipelines run across some of the most pristine habitats on earth.

As we burn through our natural resources, the price of oil hits record highs each day.  It is tough to argue against breaking our dependence on oil, both foreign and domestic.  More exploratory drilling in the US is not the answer.  In a best-case scenario, a new find, which is highly unlikely, will not yield oil for 10 years.  Extraction of oil from shale and sand deposits is expensive and some sources say that the amount of energy that will be provided by the oil will be less than the energy used to extract it.  The question that must be answered is whether the damage to the environment warrants the results that can be obtained by drilling.  No one seems to have an answer to the problem.  Our government has given tax incentives to the oil companies to look for alternative energy sources.  Why don’t we just give the fox the key to the henhouse?  Perhaps a solution could be found if our government officials asked themselves: “What would Jesus do?”
The run-up of oil prices has led to inflationary pressures in other markets, such as food prices.  As inflation increases and the credit markets tighten, we need to be ever more vigilant stewards of our financial resources.  You have the opportunity to save money and help protect the environment.  The term “going green” is being promoted through TV and print ads.  PPL has an Energy Analyzer tool and other resources to help you save energy around your home which can lead to cost savings.  This resource is available at the PPL website, www.pplelectric.com.  You can find more environment friendly information at http://earth911.org, and information regarding waste disposal at the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority website, http://www.lcswma.org. Please take time to review these resources.  Remember, God wants us to take care of all His gifts, including His world.  

To see the ad mentioned in the article from 1974 click play above.