Annabelle Crawford
Dr. Choi
ECON 320
8 October 2022
Blog Post 2: Stewardship, Private Property, and Pollution
Stewardship should be second nature as Christians. God commands us to be good stewards in everything from our finances to our personal belongings. As stewards, we are open to giving what we receive and giving cheerfully, without greed. Learning to be “content with what you have,” as Hebrews 13:5 says. Being content with what we have means we should also make it a priority to take care of what we have and to have an appreciation for our belongings. At some point in life, we will all have personal property, whether owning a house, a car, or a phone.
Personal property can influence pollution in several ways, from the factories that produce material items to car emissions. Pollution is a negative externality affecting society (khan academy). Starting with companies that only consider private costs and don’t consider the social costs society must deal with. As Christians, we can consider what brands we use; many brands today are working to create positive effects on the environment. Another common and easy way to be a good steward is to own plants indoors or outdoors. Plants can play a significant role in purifying the air. Indoors alone, many pollutants exist, such as formaldehyde, ammonia, or nitrogen dioxide. These pollutants can be found in facial tissues, window cleaners, or vehicle emissions (mashrita.com). Plants like snake plants and aloe vera play a significant role in purifying the air. To connect this all together, as stewards of Christ, we can take the first step in taking care of our private property, such as our houses, to demonstrate the importance of breathing in clean air, which in return can be healthier for our bodies which are the temples of Christ.
References:
Mashrita, (Reviewer), (2019, November 16). 29 best air purifying plants from NASA clean air study. Landscaping Garden Indoor Office Plants Online India. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://www.mashrita.com/29-best-air-purifying-plants-nasa-clean-air-study/
11 eco-friendly brands that put the planet first - 99designs. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://99designs.com/blog/business/eco-friendly-brands/
Khan Academy. (n.d.). The Economics of Pollution (article). Khan Academy. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://www.khanacademy.org/economics-finance-domain/microeconomics/market-failure-and-the-role-of-government/environmental-regulation/a/the-economics-of-pollution-cnx