Recently, I was having a conversation with someone about my two dogs. I told the person that I considered my dogs as gifts from God because of the way I acquired them. They vehemently scoffed at that notion adding that they did not see dogs as anything other than a deterrent to intruders. And further more felt strongly that dogs were not deserving of our love and affection. I’m quite sure that this person is not alone in their thinking; there are many others who feel the same way.
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| Duke and Rhino as puppies |
What about you, how do you feel about the creatures in your care? Your pets – dogs, cats, birds, whatever that pet may be. How do you care for them and treat them? Do you realize that the well-being of animals matters to God and that God is engaged with all of creation, not just humans? Animals are part of His original design.
“God made each kind of the earth's animals” – Genesis 1:25 (ISV)
The Word of God compels us to treat with God’s creation well – that includes the pets that live with us. God has placed them in our lives to enrich our lives in some way, for He created them just before creating man. Animals were created for us for varying reasons and our pets are part of that. They’re not to be abused but rather we are to cherish and love them as God Himself does. Remember, they are part of creation just as we are.
“Look at the birds…your Father in heaven takes care of them.” – Matthew 6:26 (GNT)
Do you know that the way we treat our pets is directly linked to our relationships with people and with God? Do you know that God, Who can do anything, can use animals to teach us lessons?
Job 12:7-10
“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell 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.”
God can use the animals in our care, even our pets, to teach us spiritual lessons. They are aware of the reality of the spiritual realm. We are shown this quite clearly in Numbers chapter twenty two.
“…the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside…The angel demanded, Why have you beaten your donkey three times like this? I have come to bar your way, because you should not be making this journey. But your donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and spared the donkey.” (v. 23, 32-33)
First Kings 4:33 records that Solomon, to whom God gave unprecedented wisdom, very great insight, and unmatched understanding, taught about animals. He said in Proverbs 12:10, “The righteous care for the needs of their animals…”. So you see, there is a direct correlation to righteousness and how we treat the animals in our care.
There is so much more that can be said on this particular topic, Scripture is rife with examples but that would require a part two or even a series on this blog. Let me just leave you with this for today…
Make no mistake, God cares for the animals He has created. We, humans, have been created in God’s image and likeness but that doesn’t mean that the rest of creation is of no value to God. We’ve been designated caretakers, trustees, stewards of His creation. We’ve been given authority to rule over our pets (see Genesis 1:26) but they still belong to God, for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains (Psalm 24:1-2). They may be subject to us but like everything else, they do not belong to us.
God Himself said, “With My great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of Mine to anyone I choose.” (Jeremiah 27:5) And so I believe that my two dogs are gifts from God and I intend to treat them as such.
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| Duke and Rhino today |
So, how do you treat your pets? God showers compassion on all His creation (Psalm 145:9); shouldn’t you?
How do you treat your pets? Shelley Johnson 11-Apr-16
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