Religious proverbs about stewardship

RE3.org looks for new ways to educate about recycling. Spiritual individuals are being educated through their faith regularly. Review these stewardship proverbs from the Bible, Quran and a Jewish Midrash below and let us know what you think.

Guest Blogger – Wambui and Clare

I am often fascinated when I read religious texts and discover that God has a lot to say about our earth. In the very first book of the Bible (Gen. 1:26) God entrusts the care of earth to man. In other words, humans are stewards of the earth. However, many verses remind us that it was God who created the land and we are just visitors. Here, God claims pride and ownership over the land when speaking to Moses:
“The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.” Lev. 25:23-24 NIV

Another in Psalms:
“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 formed the dry land.” Psalms 95: 3-5 NIV

The Bible also shows that God intended us not to abuse the earth and its resources:
“The designer and maker of the earth who established it, not creating it to a waste, but designing it to be lived in.” Isaiah 45:18 NAB

This same idea, that man should preserve the earth, can be found in the Quran:
“Seek not mischief in the land, for Allah loves not those who do mischief.” (Al-Qasas: verse 77)

Finally, a Jewish Midrash (or ancient biblical commentary) on our communal relationship with the earth:

“Two men were out on the water in a rowboat. Suddenly, one of them started to saw under his feet. He maintained that it was his right to do whatever he wished with the place which belonged to him. The other answered him that they were in the rowboat together; the hole that he was making would sink both of them.” (Vayikra Rabbah 4:6)

Do you know of any other proverbs or verses that relate to protecting the earth? What does your religion think?