Sunday 20 September 2026

From the Bin to the Garden: Our Calling to Care.

Think about the rubbish bins we have in our homes. We are provided with different bins: one for recycling, one for food scraps, one for rubbish that cannot be recycled, and other waste that needs to be disposed of appropriately.

Every time we stand at the kitchen bench holding something we no longer need, we have a decision to make:

Which bin does this belong in?

It may seem like a very ordinary decision. But it is also an opportunity to practise faithful stewardship.

If I put a food scrap into the recycling bin, I have made the wrong decision. If I put recyclable material into the general rubbish, I have missed an opportunity to reduce waste. If I take a moment to put each item into the appropriate bin, I am making a small contribution to caring for God’s creation.

And this reminds us of something important about decision-making.

Our decisions often have consequences beyond what we immediately see. We make a decision, and something happens as a result. Sometimes the consequence is what we expected. Sometimes there are unintended consequences, things we did not foresee when we made the decision.

Creation Month gives us an opportunity to think more carefully about the everyday decisions we make.

The question is not simply: “What is easiest for me?”

But: “What is the right thing to do?”

And perhaps even more importantly: “What impact will my decision have on God’s creation and on the people who come after me?”

Something as simple as putting our rubbish into the appropriate bin reminds us that we are not just consumers of God’s creation. We are caregivers.

God has entrusted this world to us. The land, the oceans, the rivers, the trees, the animals and the resources we enjoy are gifts from God. We have a responsibility to care for them.

And our care begins with the small things.

It begins in our kitchens, in our homes, in our gardens and in the choices we make every day.

During Creation Month, let us therefore become more conscious of our decisions. Let us think about the consequences of what we do not only for ourselves today, but for our neighbours, our communities and generations yet to come.

When we put something into the right bin, it may feel like a very small act. But small acts of faithfulness matter. They shape our habits, our communities and the kind of world we leave behind.

Perhaps this is also a reminder that faith is expressed in the ordinary things we do. Caring for creation is not only something we talk about on a Sunday. It is something we practise throughout the week.

So, the next time you stand with something in your hand and ask, “Which bin does this go into?”, take a moment to remember this too can be an act of stewardship. This too can be an expression of our gratitude to God.

The Bible gives us a beautiful foundation for this responsibility.

In Genesis 2:15, we are told:

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Our September Journey

Week 3        14-20 September — GIVE THANKS

Creation leads us to worship
Can ordinary things become occasions for gratitude?

Week 4        21-27 September — CARE

Creation is entrusted to us
What does biblical stewardship look like?
Genesis 2:15   Leviticus 25:23

Week 5        28-30 September — PASS IT ON

What will we leave?
How do we care for God’s creation for those who come after us?

Blessings

Enosa