Biblical Answer

The Relationship Between Common Grace and the Natural Order of the World

The concept of common grace is closely tied to the natural order of the world. According to Scripture, God's common grace is the source of all the order, refinement, culture, common virtue, and beauty that we find in the world. This is evident in the way God created the earth, separating land from water to produce and sustain life for flora, fauna, and human beings (Genesis 1:9-13, 2:27). The earth provides space for animals, a source of water, and a means of producing food and other essential resources. This natural order is a result of God's common grace, allowing humans to make incredible discoveries and inventions, develop the earth's resources, produce and distribute those resources, and have skill in their productive work.

Informing Our Understanding of Environmental Stewardship

The relationship between common grace and the natural order of the world has significant implications for our understanding of environmental stewardship. As recipients of God's common grace, we are called to be good stewards of the earth and its resources. This means using the natural order of the world in a way that honors God and promotes the well-being of all creation. We are not simply caretakers of the earth, but also its beneficiaries, and our actions have consequences for the world around us. The doctrine of common grace reminds us that the earth is not just a resource to be exploited, but a gift from God that requires our care and responsibility.

The Importance of Thankfulness and Humility

The doctrine of common grace also stirs our hearts to greater thankfulness to God for the natural order of the world. When we walk down a street and see houses and gardens, or do business in the marketplace and see the abundant results of human labor, we should be reminded of God's common grace and our place within it. We should be humbled by the fact that we are not the sole creators or sustainers of the world, but rather recipients of God's blessing and provision. This understanding should motivate us to live in a way that honors God and promotes the well-being of all creation, and to be grateful for the natural order of the world that makes our lives possible.