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Basic 4 · Religious and Moral Education · The Environment

Responsibilities of Being Human

In this topic you will learn the responsibilities that come with being unique among God's creatures.

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

  • State the responsibilities of human beings
  • Explain stewardship
  • Apply responsibilities in daily life

What you already know

  • Human beings are unique

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
The Environment
Indicator
B4.1.1.2.1 – Identify the uniqueness of humankind from other creatures

Introduction

Because humans can think and choose, God gave them the duty to care for creation and treat others well.

1. Human Responsibilities

Our responsibilities
ResponsibilityExample
care for creationplant trees, protect animals
worship Godpray, obey God's laws
love and respect othershelp the needy, avoid hurting people
make good choicestell the truth, avoid stealing
use talents wellstudy hard, help the community

2. Stewardship

Steward: A person who manages something on behalf of its owner.

Genesis 2:15 says God put the man in the Garden of Eden "to work it and take care of it".

In Islam, people are khalifah, trustees of the earth.

People caring for land, water and animals
Figure 1: Stewards of the earth Draw yourself as a steward of the earth.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

responsibility
A duty you must carry out.
steward
A manager on behalf of an owner.
khalifah
Arabic for a trustee or caretaker of the earth.
trustee
Someone trusted to look after something.
obey
To do what you are told.
needy
People who lack basic things.

Summary

  • Humans must care for creation and worship God.
  • Humans must love others and make good choices.
  • We are stewards, not owners, of the earth.
  • Using our gifts well pleases God.

Class activity: Steward Pledge

  1. Plant the tree seedling or tidy a space.
  2. Write a pledge about one responsibility.
  3. Explain your pledge to the class.

You need: Hand mirror, Printed photographs of Ghanaian people with local animals, Plants, Drawing sheets, Pencils

Exercises

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

  1. 1. A person who manages something for its owner is a…

    • A. Steward
    • B. Thief
    • C. Visitor
    • D. Stranger
    Show answer
    Answer: StewardThat is a steward.

  2. 2. Genesis 2:15 says God put the man in the garden to…

    • A. Work it and take care of it
    • B. Sell it
    • C. Destroy it
    • D. Leave it
    Show answer
    Answer: Work it and take care of itThat is stewardship.

  3. 3. In Islam, humans are called…

    • A. Khalifah
    • B. Imam
    • C. Hajj
    • D. Surah
    Show answer
    Answer: KhalifahThey are trustees of the earth.

  4. 4. Helping the needy is a human responsibility.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueWe must love others.

  5. 5. Humans own the earth and can do anything to it.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseWe are stewards, not owners.

  6. 6. A duty you must carry out is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: responsibilityThat is a responsibility.

  7. 7. Give two responsibilities of human beings.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: care for creation, worship God, love others, make good choices, use talents well.These are duties.

  8. 8. How can a pupil show stewardship at school?

    Show answer
    Answer: Keep the compound clean, care for plants, avoid wasting water and food.Stewardship begins with small actions.

Homework

  1. Do one act of stewardship at home and record it.