Religion, Poverty and Wealth
All Christians believe that the world and everything in it have been
created by God. They believe that the world is holy, special, divine,
worthy of respect and honour.
'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who
live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon
the waters.' Psalm 24:1-2
Because 'the earth is the Lord's', Christians believe they are
stewards or caretakers. They should be committed to the proper
management of the world and its resources. Since the earth has been
delegated to people by God they have to manage it responsibly and
productively for the sake of both their own and subsequent
generations. The following bible quotes tell us that everything
belongs to God. God made the mountains, the sea, dry land and the
skies. They also show that God's creation reveals his greatness:
'For the Lord is the great God… In his hand are the depths of the
earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he
made it, and his hands form the dry land' Psalm 95:3-6
Christianity teaches us that God is the God of nature, as well as of
religion. God made the physical universe, sustains it, and still
pronounces it good. God is interested in, and looks after his
creation.
'God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.' Genesis 1:31
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Christians believe that God made human beings to be like himself.
'So God created man in his own image… male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, be fruitful and increase in number,
fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the
birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the
ground.' Genesis 1:27-28
Human beings are godlike beings made in Gods likeness and possessing
capacities which distinguish them from the animal creation. Since God
is interested in the earth, so should the Christian want to care for