I’m trying to read one proverb a day. And when I get through them all, I go back to the beginning and read it all again.
Today I read Prov 29:4 which states,
“By justice a king gives stability to the land, but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.”
At first glance, it appears this proverb is geared towards rulers and subjects.
But doesn’t this also prove true of the land? We are called to care for this world and bring about justice – but when we make heavy exactions on it (ie: excess trash/rubbish/pollutants/overhunting/over growing/etc…) the land is ruined. Just take a look at these pictures if you don’t believe me.
There is definitely no justice here, no stability. Only heavy exactions and ruin.
46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile.
Chinese scientists have warned that the country’s toxic air pollution is now so bad that it resembles a nuclear winter, slowing photosynthesis in plants – and potentially wreaking havoc on the country’s food supply.
the effects of man-made garbage on albatross’ living 1,200 miles away from civilization.
Chinese scientists have warned that the country’s toxic air pollution is now so bad that it resembles a nuclear winter, slowing photosynthesis in plants – and potentially wreaking havoc on the country’s food supply.
Chinese scientists have warned that the country’s toxic air pollution is now so bad that it resembles a nuclear winter, slowing photosynthesis in plants – and potentially wreaking havoc on the country’s food supply.
46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile.
Every 15 minutes, 1 elephant is killed by poachers for their ivory tusks. And in Asia, human-elephant conflicts often lead to locals poisoning elephants.
When oil sticks to a bird’s feathers, it causes them to mat and separate, impairing waterproofing and exposing the animal’s sensitive skin to extremes in temperature. This can result in hypothermia, meaning the bird becomes cold, or hyperthermia, which results in overheating. Instinctively, the bird tries to get the oil off its feathers by preening, which results in the animal ingesting the oil and causing severe damage to its internal organs.
46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile.
Vs. 7 continues:
“The righteous know the rights of the poor; the wicked have no such understanding.”
Again, there’s a double meaning. We are called to care for the poor among us. Yet, the plants and animals of this world are also the poor among us that we are called to care for – and most often instead of caring for these, we greedily exploit them for our own gain. And turning a blind eye to creation care as a Christian is like the wicked with no such understanding.
If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. -Francis of Assisi
One Green Grace 