God's Plan For Humanity

Sometimes, it’s really easy to read the Bible and become familiar with a section that you’ve heard over and over again. The unfortunate thing about this is that we can miss important details we may not have noticed before.

Take the passage in Genesis 1:27-28 for example: “So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”

I imagine, if you’ve grown up in a Christian environment or have been a Christian for years, you’ve come across this passage many times before. Yet, here is the profound truth, that when dwelt upon, starts to open your eyes in awe.

God’s entire plan for all humanity was to create us, bless us, and invite us to flourish.

The very first thing He did for us, before He’s asked anything from us, before we did anything for Him, is bless us. He created us, and then He blessed us. That’s what you just read. There is no other God who acts first and acts with such love.

In His blessing to us, He gave us an incredible gift, the gift of His creation. He owns it but invites us to partner with Him. He invites us to steward the gift He’s given to us. He invites us to flourish.

Isn’t this a beautiful plan? Who wouldn’t want to be a part of it!

The definition of "stewardship" is to "manage or look after (another’s property)". The best kind of managing is the kind that leaves something in a better state than it was received. God asked us to do that; to do it living in His blessing, enjoying His creation, and learning to flourish.

His pattern for our lives is to receive what He gives us, help it to flourish, share it with others, and hold it with open hands remembering everything is His.

Over the next five days, we will learn why this went wrong, what God did about it, and how we are to live in God’s blessing once again.