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Question:<\/em><\/p>\n I have been thinking that at the majority of public wells from which water can be drunk,\u00a0crosses are mounted\u00a0 and if you notice, most of those who drink and quench their thirst from them say, \u201cThank God, I found\u00a0this fountain\u201dor \u201cLord, take care of the one who dug this well.\u201d My question is, how does God view a man\u2019s\u00a0 labor in drilling a public well or in planting\u00a0 a tree or a flower? Theoretically speaking, protecting nature is a form of self-protection for us because we can drink from the wells that we did as well as others and the flowers and trees planted will help improve air quality. So, what reward will God grant to those who protect the environment? Thanks in advance!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In the 6 days of creation, God created all that is in the heavens and on the earth. After that, He created the first man and woman.<\/p>\n 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, \u201cBe fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.\u201d (Genesis 1)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In order to enjoy God\u2019s creation the way that He intended, our \u201crule\u201d over the earth must be done very wisely. Otherwise, what manager or administrator is able to enjoy his work and his products if he does not care about the product or method of production? May the Lord help us to care for and protect with great wisdom the great gift that He has entrusted to us in the environment.<\/p>\n As far as digging a well or planting a tree or any other good deed done for others, this comes from the heart. One time, Jesus was asked by a scholar about the greatest commandment, that is, which is the greatest of all. Here is His response.<\/p>\n 29 Jesus answered, \u201cThe foremost is, \u2018HEAR, O ISRAEL ! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD ; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.\u2019 31 \u201cThe second is this, \u2018YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.\u2019 There is no other commandment greater than these.\u201d (Mark 12)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In the Gospel of Matthew 7:12, Jesus affirms the following.<\/p>\n 12 \u201cIn everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The essence of Jesus Christ\u2019s teachings is love for your neighbor. We please God when we dig a well or plant a tree or do any other good thing motivated by love for our neighbor.<\/p>\n As far as God\u2019s reward for these good deeds, we need to clarify a very important truth.<\/p>\n The wise man Solomon wrote the following in the book of Ecclesiastes:<\/p>\n 20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Why is this so? It is because we all inherit a sin nature at birth and this nature leaves its mark on everything that we do, especially our motives in doing what we do. All men are sinners, and the wages of sin is death. Therefore, in order to be really good, hoping for a reward from God, we must first resolve our sin problem. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to this earth to take upon Himself the guilt and penalty of our sins. Only when we repent and enter into the New Covenant with Him do we receive full forgiveness of our sins and are able walk in good work which God prepared beforehand for us. Christ teaches us that once becoming a Christian, we are called to be zealous for good deeds and that our priority is to be good works.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Every Christian will stand before the judgment of Christ to give an account for the good or evil that he did while living in the flesh on this earth. The Apostle Paul wrote:<\/p>\n 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n If you have not been born again then you need to know and understand that you do not have the power to do good works to meet God\u2019s high standard. Hurry to resolve your sin problem which will bring about repentance before the Lord Jesus Christ. And those who are already disciples of Christ, I urge you to follow His teaching of doing good so that you may hold your head high when standing before the judgment seat of Christ. Remember that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and receive a nice reward. May the Lord help us.<\/p>\n\n
\u00a0God entrusted mankind with His creation<\/h2>\n
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Love your neighbor<\/h2>\n
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Apart from Christ there is no reward from God<\/h2>\n
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Christians will be rewarded for their good or bad deeds done in the flesh<\/h2>\n
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