But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7–10)
My eyes open as the first morning rays of sunlight stream into my room. I welcome their warmth like an embrace. An orchestra of birdsong fills my ears—the rapid trills of the yellow-vented bulbul, the harsher screeches of the Javan myna, and the all-too-familiar “uwu” of the Asian koel. They accompany the rustling of the acacias and simpoh air that sway with the wind. As I pray, my voice joins the rest of creation in one symphony of praise to God (Psalm 66:1–4).
As the ultimate Designer, God reveals Himself through creation to all peoples, everywhere (Psalm 19:1–6). In a process that theologians call “general revelation”, creation not only bears evidence of its divine Creator (see Job 12:7–10 above) but also shines light on God’s many qualities (Romans 1:20). Moreover, creation is used throughout the Bible in rich metaphors to inspire and instruct (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:2; Proverbs 6:6–11; 30:24–28; Matthew 5:13; John 15:5). All this informs us that God intended for creation to teach godly wisdom to His people. Therefore, as we seek as individuals to better express our discipleship through creation care, we would do well by learning from creation itself.
Be Rooted in Biblical Knowledge—Like the Tembusu Tree
The sky is overcast as I leave my room for lunch. I walk past the tall Tembusu trees with their distinctive chocolate-coloured fissured bark and branches that grow outwards and upwards towards the sky like curved fingers. In the face of the wind, they stand resolute, a product of their hard wood and deep roots.
As disciples, we too must be deeply rooted in a biblical understanding of creation care. The knowledge of most Christians when it comes to creation care (if any at all!) is limited to Genesis 1–2. Yet, a rich theology of creation care runs throughout the entire biblical narrative from Creation to Fall to Redemption and Renewal.
As individuals, we must understand the reasons for caring for creation by going back to God’s Word. When we draw nourishment from the Bible, we become like strong Tembusu trees, wise and righteous (Psalm 1:2–3; Proverbs 3:18).
Reuse, Recycle, Upcycle—Like Earthworms
As the rain stills, I take a walk around the park. Earthworms lie scattered across the pavement, finding respite as water slowly drains from their flooded home in the soil. I tread carefully, trying not to squash any of them. After all, earthworms are VIPs—crucial decomposers that turn decaying matter into nutrient-rich castings that help plants grow.
They remind me of the transformative power of Christ’s death and resurrection, giving new life to that which was once dead (Romans 6:4). This power of renewal extends to all creation as well (Romans 8:19–21; Revelation 21:1). It is something we should keep in mind as we reuse, recycle, and upcycle. As new creations ourselves, we ought to pause before we deem anything as trash and think: How can we give new life to this? Even as God will ultimately renew all creation, how can we participate in that renewal today through our individual actions?
Names and New Beginnings
Caring for creation means getting to know the rest of creation intimately. From the very beginning, God entrusted to Adam the privilege of naming every living creature (Genesis 2:19–20). The act of naming is significant, demonstrating an intimate relationship between humanity and the rest of creation and establishing humanity’s authority as stewards. Therefore, to restore our relationship with creation, an important first step is to get to know it. By doing so, we rebuild the relationship that was broken as a result of the Fall, continuing the reconciliatory work that Christ started on the cross, as His disciples (Colossians 1:20; Romans 8:21).
Start with the plants you walk by every day or the birds that you hear every morning. Learn their names, their characteristics, their unique attributes. As Abraham, Peter, and Paul’s new names marked a new chapter of their relationship with God, may these new names you find represent a fresh start in your relationship with the rest of creation around you—one that is marked with humility and obedience, as part of the created order united in worship of the Creator of all.
***
Excerpted from Dennis Tan, “Creation Care in the Life of the Christian,” in Loving Our Father’s World: Creation Care and Gospel Living, ed. Leow Wen Pin (Graceworks, 2025), 37–47, in commemoration of Earth Day (22 April).
This book explains from a biblical perspective why creation care should be an essential part of Christian discipleship and provides practical guidance on how to live out creation care as an individual Christian and together in the local church. This essay has been edited for clarity.