God gave people the job of caring for the world he made. These four verses, from the World English Bible, are simple enough for young children to understand and talk about — a gentle way to introduce the idea of stewardship, or taking care of what God has given us.
For more ways to talk with your child about faith and character, visit our resources for parents page.
1. God Gave Us a Job to Do
"Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it." (Genesis 2:15)
Talk about it: What is one job we can do to take care of our yard, garden, or park?
2. The Earth Belongs to God
"The earth is Yahweh's, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1)
Talk about it: If the whole earth belongs to God, how should we treat it?
3. Caring for Every Living Thing
"God blessed them. God said to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:28)
Talk about it: Can you name an animal you would like to help take care of?
4. Ruling Over Creation Means Caring for It
"You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet:" (Psalm 8:6)
Talk about it: What does it mean to be a good "ruler" of something — kind, or careless?
Read a Story About Stewardship Together
Ethan Cares for Nature is one of our picture books about stewardship, making it a natural next read after these verses about caring for the earth.
See more of our books about stewardship and caring for creation.
See how these lessons connect in our Children's Books That Teach Kindness, Courage, and Honesty roundup.
Free printable: Lilly's Animal Crossword Adventures, a 20-puzzle animal crossword pack, is in our free printable pack.
Little Lamb Studios creates faith-based books, songs, and animated stories that help children grow in faith, courage, and kindness.