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Basic 2 · Religious and Moral Education · Purpose of God’s Creation

People Care for God's Creation

In this topic you will learn that God gave people the work of caring for creation.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Explain what the holy books say about caring for creation
  • Name ways people care for creation
  • Explain why people must not misuse creation

What you already know

  • Stewardship

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
God’s creation and Attributes
Sub-strand
Purpose of God’s Creation
Indicator
B2.1.3.1.1 – Explain the purpose of God's creation

Introduction

God placed people on earth to use His creation and to look after it. A good caretaker uses things wisely.

1. What the Holy Books Say

Caring for creation
ReligionTeaching
ChristianityGod put the first man in the garden "to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15).
IslamThe Qur'an calls people "khalifah", caretakers of the earth (Qur'an 2:30).
Traditional ReligionThe land belongs to God and the ancestors; some days the land rests and no one farms.
Farmers tending crops and children cleaning a stream
Figure 1: Caretakers of creation Draw people caring for creation.Illustration: Sirbus

2. Using Creation Wisely

  • Take only what we need.
  • Do not waste food or water.
  • Replant what we cut.
  • Share with others.

New words

caretaker
One who looks after something.
khalifah
Arabic word for a caretaker on earth.
wisely
With good sense.
misuse
To use wrongly.

Summary

  • God gave people the work of caring for creation.
  • The Bible, Qur'an and Traditional Religion all teach care.
  • We should use creation wisely and not waste it.

Class activity: Wise Use Pledge

  1. Talk about one way you waste things.
  2. Agree on how to use it wisely.
  3. Write a pledge and sign it.

You need: Local maize, Cassava specimens, Printed photographs of local farm animals, Drawing sheets, Crayons

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. A person who looks after something is a…

    • A. Caretaker
    • B. Thief
    • C. Visitor
    • D. Stranger
    Show answer
    Answer: CaretakerCaretakers look after things.

  2. 2. Which verse says God put man in the garden to take care of it?

    • A. Genesis 2:15
    • B. John 3:16
    • C. Psalm 1:1
    • D. Exodus 20:12
    Show answer
    Answer: Genesis 2:15That is the verse.

  3. 3. Islam teaches that people are caretakers of the earth.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThe Qur'an calls them khalifah.

  4. 4. We should waste food and water.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseWe should use them wisely.

  5. 5. To use something wrongly is to ______ it.

    Show answer
    Answer: misuseThat is misuse.

  6. 6. Write two ways to use creation wisely.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: take only what we need, do not waste, replant, share.These show care.

Homework

  1. Eat all your food without wasting this week.