Pets and Stewardship — Caring for God's Creatures

Memory Verse "The righteous care for the needs of their animals." — Proverbs 12:10 (NIV)

Learning Objective

Students will learn about the responsibility God gave humans to care for animals and what it means to be a good steward of creation.

Lesson Content

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them an important job — to have dominion over the animals and to care for the earth. This is called stewardship. A steward is someone who takes care of something that belongs to someone else. The animals belong to God, and He trusted us to care for them!

Having a pet is one way we can practice stewardship. Whether you have a dog, cat, fish, hamster, or bird, God wants you to take good care of it. Pets need food, water, shelter, exercise, and love. When we care for our pets well, we are obeying God and showing His love to His creatures.

Stewardship also means caring for wild animals and their homes. We should not be wasteful or harm animals for no reason. We can help by keeping our neighborhoods clean, not littering, and being kind to all animals. God made every creature for a purpose, and He is pleased when we treat His creation with respect and kindness.

Hands-On Activity

Draw a picture of yourself taking care of an animal (a pet or a wild animal). Write three things you can do to be a good steward of animals. If you have a pet, make a 'Pet Care Chart' showing what your pet needs every day.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to be a steward of God's creation?
  • How can you take better care of animals in your life?
  • Why do you think God gave humans the job of caring for animals?
← Previous Lesson Back to Course Take the Quiz →