Bless the Legos, the Beasts, and the Children
But Most Especially, the Children
(Google Image from cagi-in.org)
A couple of years ago, outrage circulated the Web at a rather quick rate over a Minnesota dentist who killed a lion in Zimbabwe. The circumstances were sketchy, and killing such a beautiful animal for sport surely is upsetting.
More recently, zoo keepers in Cincinnati had to make the difficult decision to end the life of a beloved gorilla in order to save a boy’s life.
Both of these glorious animals had names: Cecil the Lion and Harambe the Gorilla.
So what’s my point? Well I entered a discussion thread over Cecil during that time of outrage, and someone said that it is arrogant to think that a human’s life is more important than an animal’s life. I am certain, after seeing the “silent” verbal attacks on Facebook concerning the boy and his parents who were at the zoo that there are thousands who agree with him. While I do not wish to diminish the grandeur of all life, and I don’t devalue the life of these animals, I am not arrogant because I believe God’s word.
1 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Although God notices the fall of a sparrow; although He feels sadness for the beast who loses His life; although God recognizes inconsistencies and injustices; God still loves His children more than all of His other creations. Why? He loves us most because we are His children. And His first two great commandments are that we love Him and that we love one another (see Matthew 22:36-40).
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Even more recently I read about a young boy that knocked over a lego sculpture that was valued at $15,000. Evidently, the exhibit was open for picture taking, and the boy accidentally knocked it over. From the responses of Facebook readers, you would think that the child’s was valued at a lesser amount. The comments made against him and his parents and their parenting skills were horrendous.
I think that the lack of empathy we have for human beings is appalling. It seems that some people care more about the well-being of animals and legos than they do people.
If we are of so much worth to our Father, I believe that it is arrogant when we do not acknowledge that every other human being on earth is also of great worth to God. Every one. We all make mistakes, and that is part of the reason for us being here. We need to learn and grow. And I believe that our Father will be happy if we choose to aid rather than hinder each other in our journey back to Him.
More recently, zoo keepers in Cincinnati had to make the difficult decision to end the life of a beloved gorilla in order to save a boy’s life.
Both of these glorious animals had names: Cecil the Lion and Harambe the Gorilla.
So what’s my point? Well I entered a discussion thread over Cecil during that time of outrage, and someone said that it is arrogant to think that a human’s life is more important than an animal’s life. I am certain, after seeing the “silent” verbal attacks on Facebook concerning the boy and his parents who were at the zoo that there are thousands who agree with him. While I do not wish to diminish the grandeur of all life, and I don’t devalue the life of these animals, I am not arrogant because I believe God’s word.
Man Made Just a Little Lower than the Angels (Psalm 8)
(Second reference Hebrews 2)
1 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
God Loves All His Creations
Although God notices the fall of a sparrow; although He feels sadness for the beast who loses His life; although God recognizes inconsistencies and injustices; God still loves His children more than all of His other creations. Why? He loves us most because we are His children. And His first two great commandments are that we love Him and that we love one another (see Matthew 22:36-40).
The Lord Wants Us to Trust Him and Find Safety in Him (Luke 12:27-28)
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
God Values Us Above All His Creations (Matthew 10:29-31)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
What Should We Value Most?
Even more recently I read about a young boy that knocked over a lego sculpture that was valued at $15,000. Evidently, the exhibit was open for picture taking, and the boy accidentally knocked it over. From the responses of Facebook readers, you would think that the child’s was valued at a lesser amount. The comments made against him and his parents and their parenting skills were horrendous.
I think that the lack of empathy we have for human beings is appalling. It seems that some people care more about the well-being of animals and legos than they do people.
If we are of so much worth to our Father, I believe that it is arrogant when we do not acknowledge that every other human being on earth is also of great worth to God. Every one. We all make mistakes, and that is part of the reason for us being here. We need to learn and grow. And I believe that our Father will be happy if we choose to aid rather than hinder each other in our journey back to Him.
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