Stewardship

DOMINION

Daniel 2 :38 (NIV

In your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air . Wherever they live , he has made you ruler over them all . You are that head of gold

Interpretation . God has placed the responsibility for all His creations the birds and the beasts , into the hands of mankind . Wherever we live we rule over them , and because we have a head of gold , our minds are set to do good , to care for the animals and the land and

not to destroy it all . Dominion is rulership with responsibility

Friend 's interpretation . God gave mankind power over all the animals and the earth to use as he sees fit . The head of gold means that man is a king of the earth with a crown

Differences . I think that the passage means that we are responsible for earth 's resources and not to abuse them and use them up . However , my friend believes it means that we can do whatever we want with them

REPLENISH

Genesis 9 :1 (King James Version

And God blessed Noah and his sons , and said unto them , be fruitful , and multiply , and replenish the earth

Interpretation . God destroyed the earth with a flood and Noah and his sons were given the responsibility to restore the earth with people animals , birds , and fish . This assignment was a blessing and taking care of the earth and its resources is a blessing and a duty . Replenish means to restore

Friend 's interpretation . Noah and his sons were told to refill the earth with people and animals to make up for what evil people had caused to be destroyed

Differences . We both see that replenish means to refill or replace , but I see it as a blessing and duty and my friend sees it as work

SUBDUE

Genesis 1 :28 (New International Version

God blessed them and said to them "Be fruitful and increase in number fill the earth and subdue it . Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground

Interpretation . Mankind was instructed to become the species with the highest numbers on the earth . They were to take charge of the earth and all living creatures and to be their leader

Friend 's interpretation . Adam and Eve were told to have many children and to conquer the animals , the fish , and the birds . They were given the power over them . Mankind can do whatever they want with the animals and the land

Differences . I think that the passage tells us to be leaders and use resources wisely , but my friend thinks it means that we can use resources as we like tnd that God will make more if we use them up

JUDGMENT

Ezekiel 14 :19-21 (NIV

19 "Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath upon it through bloodshed , killing its men and...