Common Good

Common Good

Back to Environment, Biodiversity and Flood Resilience

Stewarding the Forests

EasterEnvironment, Biodiversity and Flood ResilienceWeek 19 · Day 5

Scripture References

Read First

Old Testament

Genesis 2:8-15

8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9 Out of the ground the LORD God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became the source of four rivers.

Read 5 more verses

11 The name of the first is Pishon: it flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

12 and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are also there.

13 The name of the second river is Gihon. It is the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush.

14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel. This is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.

New Testament

Luke 13:6-9

6 He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

7 He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down! Why does it waste the soil?’

8 He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilise it.

9 If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”

Thought for the Day

Genesis describes the Lord as provider: forming, planting, watering, placing. The garden is not an ornament; it is a vocation. The human is put there “to work it and keep it”, to serve and to guard. Before there is industry, there is stewardship.

Jesus tells of a fig tree that will not bear fruit. The owner is ready to cut it down, and the gardener pleads for time: let me dig and dung it, and then we shall see. It is a parable of mercy, but it is not a denial of judgement. Patience is given for the sake of fruit.

Show 104 more words

Forests teach us this tension. They take time. They need protection. They are easily ruined and slowly restored. To steward them is to practise long obedience: resisting quick profit that leaves the next generation with a stripped inheritance.

Lord, grant us the gardener’s patience and the owner’s seriousness. Give wisdom to those who manage land, enforce protections, and plan for the long term. Turn us from performative concern to steady faithfulness. And teach your Church to live as kin in Christ, asking in every decision: how would we treat this place if our children, and our neighbours, were sat beside us at the Table?

Prayer Points

Respond
  • Give thanks for forests and woodlands as places of life, shelter, and renewal.
  • Pray for those stewarding land and forests: wisdom, integrity, and courage to resist destructive pressure.
  • Pray for communities affected by deforestation, fires, and land degradation, especially the poor.
Show 2 more prayer points
  • Ask God to form patience for long repair and seriousness about accountability and fruit.
  • Pray that the Church would practice steady, non-performative care as a witness to Christ.
Continue Reading Journey