Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering. – Genesis 4:1-4.

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” – Matthew 25:14-15 (Read 14-30).

Economy – of Rome

The paterfamilias of the Roman family allowed his slaves and freedmen to control his affairs, sell his produce, and to make financial decisions for the family. Their business acuity made them indispensable to the economy of the Roman Empire. Most were scrupulously honest; they kept accurate records of all income and expenses, and sometimes went years before being called to an accounting. But, as Jesus stressed in the parable of the unjust steward, any dishonesty brought immediate dismissal and worse, for penalties were severe.

God has given us the freedom to choose and to make decisions. He holds us accountable for our stewardship of all he has given us. It is a challenging responsibility. Human stewardship of the earth demands reevaluation, less exploitation, and more cooperation. The spiritual root of environmental abuse must be recognized—we have treated the earth badly because we have left God’s original intention for our personal lives.

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved.