God's Mandate to Maintain Stewardship of the Planet

God mandated that mankind maintain the health of the planet in Genesis 1:28

The Stewardship Mandate

In Genesis 1:28, God instructs humans to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth". This is often referred to as the Creation Mandate, and it's understood as a mandate for stewardship, not exploitation. Humans are given authority to care for and manage the earth, but not to destroy it.

• Be fruitful and multiply: This part emphasizes human responsibility to populate the earth and continue God's creation.
• Fill the earth: This suggests expanding human presence and influence to encompass the entire planet.
• Subdue it: This is often interpreted not as domination or exploitation, but as developing and managing the earth to its full potential for the good of all.
• Have dominion over...: This grants humans authority over the natural world, but with the responsibility to care for it and protect it.

The Creation Mandate highlights the idea that humans are to be responsible caretakers of God's creation, using their unique gifts and talents to bring about God's glory on earth. This includes respecting and preserving the natural world, ensuring its flourishing, and avoiding destructive practices.