In what ways can we cultivate our own "garden" as stewards of God's creation?

◄ How can we nurture God's creation? ►

“Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” (Berean Standard Bible)

The Original Assignment

- God’s first job description for humanity was hands-on stewardship.

- “Cultivate” (ʿābad) points to working, tilling, and improving the soil.

- “Keep” (shāmar) speaks of guarding, protecting, and preserving what God has entrusted.

- Eden was God’s property; Adam was God’s manager—a pattern that still defines our relationship to the earth.

What “Cultivate and Keep” Looks Like Today

Practical ways we can treat every sphere of life as our garden:

1. Creation Care

• Plant, compost, and recycle to improve soil and reduce waste.

• Conserve water and energy—treat resources as gifts, not entitlements.

2. Home & Property

• Maintain yards, fields, and apartments with order and beauty that honor the Giver.

• Avoid chemicals that damage soil or waterways; choose stewardship over convenience.

3. Community Spaces

• Volunteer in neighborhood clean-ups, park restorations, or church workdays.

• Support local farmers or plant community gardens that bless others.

4. Vocational Stewardship

• In farming, landscaping, engineering, or office work, pursue excellence that reflects God’s character.

• Innovate in ways that promote sustainability rather than short-term gain.

5. Personal Relationships

• “Cultivate” people: mentor, encourage, and protect those God has placed near you.

• Guard marriages and families, tending hearts the way Adam tended soil.

Guarding Against Neglect

- Sloth lets weeds overrun both gardens and souls; diligence keeps both fruitful.

- Exploitation—using land or people only for profit—violates “keep it.”

- Remember: accountability is coming (Romans 14:12). We answer for every acre, task, and relationship.

The Harvest God Desires

- A healthy environment that declares His glory (Psalm 19:1).

- Homes and neighborhoods marked by order, beauty, and hospitality.

- Work that blesses others and points them to the Master Gardener.

- Growing Christlike character—the ripest fruit of all (Galatians 5:22-23).