God - The Ultimate Recycler

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to God's purpose. (KJV) Romans 8:28

The talk around Earth Day each year makes one think that recycling is a modern concept. Actually it is a concept built into creation although it might seem that humanity has forgotten this aspect of stewardship.

Think about the oft misunderstood vulture. Why would God create this strange looking bird? Why is it missing all its feathers on its head and neck? The vulture is one of God's recyclers. The vulture is uniquely created to be able to peck in and around the carcasses it finds without getting matter caught in its feathers. It was created for a purpose and it does its job with passion and excellence!

Think of how God created the cycle of water from liquid to vapor to rain to ice - all with a unique job. Think about how the waters are cleansed. In the midst of creation, God created natural filters of rock and sand that water would pass through to underground water tables that flow yet again to aquifers.

Bees and ladybugs land on flowers to feed, pick up pollen and deposit it on yet another flower thus pollinating fields of flowers and crops. Pollen is not just something that bothers people with allergies! The corn that grows after pollination is picked and used for many purposes from fuel, to food, to feed. After harvesting the corn itself, the stalks are a favorite snack for cattle. And the cycle continues.

As a vegetable gardener, I am very aware of how every part of the plant has value. Gardeners are encouraged to feed the soil as well as themselves. Fields are to be rotated and given time off to rest and renew. One form of renewal is to grow crops like turnips or black eyed peas in order to till the green plants back into the ground thus feeding the soil with much needed nutrients in order for the soil to feed young plants once again. It is a natural cycle that creation practices without human interference.

All things work together for good. As we seek to live in God's purpose, we find the possibilities, the new life, the way to "recycle" ideas and resources for the good of all, including ourselves. If God, included ways for the earth to recycle and regenerate, why would we think that God would do less for us or want less for us? It is God who can bring good out of situations just like the forest that has been ravaged by fire soon finds new shoots sprouting up from the seeds now set free in the ash enriched soil.

Recycling is part of our stewardship call. All the natural products of God's creation have a built in recycling plan. Our human made creations, like plastic, seem to give us the challenges. Yet even with these we have many recycling options if we would practice recycling rather than simply filling the dumps. Please notice that our culture commonly places biodegradable and non-biodegradable items together inside a plastic bag! We participate in slowing down the decomposition of some items that could naturally and relatively quickly return to the earth! It begs the question of whether we have answered the call to God's purpose when it comes to stewardship of the earth. What does it say about our love of God when we treat the God given gift of this world so poorly?

Look at the example of God in creation. Remember our commitment to be good stewards of the earth as well as of our finances. Remember that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to God's purpose. (KJV) Romans 8:28