March 28
Caring for
God's Creation
"God blessed them. He said to them, ‘Have children so that there will be many of you.
Fill the earth and bring it under your control.
Rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky.
Rule over every living creature that moves along the ground.’”
Genesis 1:28 (NIrV)
The car rumbled along the highway, the windows down and music blasting. Ashley, Malik, Carla, and Jackson were laughing over a shared joke, the camaraderie of their road trip making every moment feel electric.
They had just stopped at a McDonald’s for a quick bite, pulling over near an open field to eat in the car. Fries, burgers, and soda cups littered their laps and the dashboard. When they finished, Ashley rolled down her window and casually tossed her wrapper out onto the roadside.
“Done with that,” she said with a grin.
Jackson followed her lead, chucking his cup out the window. “Out of sight, out of mind,” he joked, earning a laugh from Carla as she did the same.
Malik hesitated, his fry box still in his hand. “Guys, I’m not sure we should be doing this. It’s not right to just leave our trash here.”
“Oh, come on,” Carla scoffed. “It’s just some garbage. Who cares? The world’s already full of it.”
“Yeah, what difference does it make?” Ashley added, turning up the volume on the stereo.
Malik glanced at the litter scattered along the road and felt a pang of guilt. He thought about Genesis 1:28, a verse he had learned as a child. God had given humans the responsibility to care for the earth, to treat His creation with respect.
“It makes a difference to God,” Malik said quietly.
The laughter stopped, and the car filled with awkward silence.
“Are you serious?” Jackson finally said, incredulous. “You think God cares about a few McDonald’s wrappers on the side of the road?”
“Yes,” Malik replied firmly. “God entrusted us with this earth. We’re supposed to take care of it, not treat it like a trash can.”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “Malik, no offense, but that’s ridiculous. The world has bigger problems than this. We’re not going back to pick up trash.”
“Exactly,” Carla said, leaning back in her seat. “It’s not our job to save the planet. Chill out.”
Malik felt a knot of frustration in his chest. He wanted to argue, to make them see why this mattered, but he could tell they weren’t interested. He silently prayed for guidance, asking God to help him do the right thing, even if it meant standing alone.
When they stopped for the night, Malik excused himself and walked back to the stretch of road where they had left their trash. He picked up every wrapper and cup, feeling a quiet sense of peace with each piece he collected.
As he worked, he prayed, “Lord, thank You for this beautiful earth. Even if no one else cares, help me to honor You by caring for what You’ve made.”
The others didn’t understand Malik’s actions, but he realized that faith often meant doing what was right, even when it wasn’t popular. Malik returned to the car that night with a lighter heart, knowing he had done his part to honor God’s creation.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for the beautiful world You have given us to enjoy and care for.
Help us to remember that everything we do reflects our relationship with You, even the small things.
Give us the courage to honor You, even when others don’t understand.
May we be faithful stewards of Your creation, showing Your love through our actions.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
