What Does The Bible Teach About Animals

What Does the Bible Say about Caring for Animals?

Our nine-month-onetime standard poodle showed me what "sick as a dog" means. I chosen my husband to give the vet'southward written report. "Max will die if we don't practise surgery."

"A righteous human being is kind to his brute. Practise the surgery," he said.

When I said "I do" to Larry, I couldn't have foreseen all the times his character would impact my life—even to how we treat our pets. Proverbs 12:10 says, "The righteous care for the needs of their animals, only the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Kindness to animals is godly. In fact, caring for them is part of our purpose.

"Then God said, 'Let the states make mankind in our image, in our likeness, then that they may rule over the fish in the ocean and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground'" (Gen. 1:26).

God made us in His epitome "and so" that we might take care of the animals. Could it exist that as epitome bearers nosotros virtually reverberate God when nosotros tend His creatures? Adam, the outset homo, spent his first mean solar day on earth working with God naming the animals.

"Now the Lord God had formed out of the footing all the wild fauna and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would proper name them; and whatever the human chosen each living creature, that was its proper name. So the homo gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals" (Gen. 2:19-20).

Imagine how fun it was for God to introduce Adam to the various members of His creation. I'grand sure they shared lots of laughs as Adam came upward with names. "Let'southward call the 1 with the funny olfactory organ a 'rhino.'"

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Eva Blanco

God's Care for Animals Shows His Beloved for Us

Nosotros intendance for our animals the way God cares for usa and for them. His intendance is recorded throughout Scripture.

"Y'all, Lord, preserve both people and animals" (Ps. 36:6).

The rainbow is God's promise to both humans and animals that He'll never destroy the earth past flood once again. I reason God relented from destroying wicked Nineveh was to save the animals.

"And should I not have concern for the nifty metropolis of Nineveh, in which there are more than than a hundred and twenty chiliad people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?" (Jonah iv:xi).

God points to His intendance of wild birds to remind usa we can trust Him to intendance for our needs.

"Therefore I tell yous, practise not worry nearly your life, what you lot will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will habiliment. Is non life more than nutrient, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they practice not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are yous not much more valuable than they?" (Matt. 6:25-26).

How Should We Care for Animals?

Caring for our animals has taught me much about God'south honey and intendance for me. Does the Bible tell us how to intendance for our animals? The psalmist described the Lord equally his shepherd. Let'southward look at the instance the Lord models in Psalm 23.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nada.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside repose waters" (Ps. 23:1-2).

The Lord anticipates our needs and provides for them. He supplied food for Adam, Eve, and the animals before He created them. Pet owners and those who intendance for wild fauna need to provide consistent care for the animals that rely on them. If nosotros start feeding wild birds, we shouldn't stop during ice storms. They've learned to depend on us.

Our animals need make clean h2o and proper nutrition. They look to usa to supply these. It is hard to resist a playful kitten or cuddly puppy. Simply nosotros must consider the long-term commitment of caring for a pet before we bring that infant fauna home or start to put out birdseed. And we must not consul a pet's well-being to a child that is too young to shoulder that responsibility.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Mahiruysal

We Care for Their Emotional Needs

"He refreshes my soul" (Ps. 23:3).

Our assortment of pets has included such animals every bit Chinese Fighting fish, a Rhode Isle Ruddy chicken, a white duck, a republic of guinea squealer, and various cats and dogs. Each ane has displayed a unique personality. Animals don't have spirits like humans, just they take souls. They display affection, grief, joy, jealousy, fear, pride, and playfulness. They've moped or withdrawn when they felt left out. And danced when they've been included in something they enjoyed.

Our craven and duck learned they could get cheerios by scratching at a neighbor's screen door. The chicken would run to greet my husband when she heard his motorcar make it home from work. He'd pick her up and gently toss her in the air. She loved information technology.

When Hashemite kingdom of jordan, the duck, was a duckling, she followed our son around like he was her female parent. We tried to release her at a friend'south pond after she'd grown up, but she wouldn't leave us. So we brought her dorsum home to her kiddy pool.

When my married man was in seminary, we rented a house with indoor/outdoor carpet. At night I'd sit on the dining room floor and let our guinea hog run through the dining chair legs. He'd circle round and stop in front of me to be certain I was watching. His contented squeaks and stops before me allow me know he enjoyed the play and interaction with me.

Our Chinese Fighting fish would swim to the surface of his small fishbowl to accept his dorsum scratched past our cat's sandpapery natural language when he lapped water. Max, our male standard poodle, pranced and whimpered in joy when nosotros brought abode a new puppy. Seven years afterwards when she died, grief threw him into a health crisis.

We care for our animals when we admit their emotional needs. Their fiddling souls need play, love, comfort, and attention just like we do. Some animals, similar our standard poodles, too crave practise and intellectual stimulation.

Photograph credit: ©Getty Images/FamVeld

We Protect Them from Harm

"He guides me along the correct paths for his name's sake" (Ps. 23:iii).

Jesus taught us to pray, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matt. 6:thirteen). That prayer reminds us we demand His help to navigate safely through this globe. Our animals need guidance and protection too.

Some human foods similar night chocolate and grapes are toxic for dogs and cats. It's our task to keep them out of their reach. Some animals have coats that require grooming, or they will mat or block their vision. Those who alive past busy streets need a physical or invisible fence to protect their animals.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I volition fearfulness no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they condolement me" (Ps. 23:4).

The company of the Lord is a great condolement when we feel afraid. Our presence and rules can comfort our pets too. They feel secure when they know we're in charge.

One of our dogs was agape of thunderstorms. Another one feared loud vacuum cleaners when he was a puppy. Nosotros recognized their stress and comforted them with our closeness.

^"Yous prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You lot anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows" (Ps. 23:5).

Just every bit a good shepherd tends the wounds, insect bites, and illnesses of his sheep, we must provide protection and care for our animals when they suffer. 1 of our dogs has ii autoimmune diseases. This ways we must requite him a monthly shot and a daily dose of prednisone. We apply essential oils in the summer to ward off insects.

We Enjoy Them

Our animals' needs provide opportunities to interact with them and build special bonds. In our family nosotros have different roles. Our daughter does the evening walk. My husband does a morning time walk. I feed them. My son throws the ball when he gets home. They look forward to their special times with each of united states of america.

"Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Ps. 23:five).

When nosotros invest in our animals, they give dorsum to u.s.. Each pet brings out a unlike aspect in us.

Two weeks after we lost our vii-yr-erstwhile female domestic dog last year, my married man said, "We need a new spirit in this house. Let's look at puppies."

God provided a joy male child for us. He was not Cosette, but he brought a different kind of joy to our home.

My friend lost her son in a tragic car wreck. There were days she couldn't motility. And yet her puppy would make her laugh, even when she didn't want to. That dog became therapy for her and helped her make it through the first xiii years afterward her son's death.

Our animals are gifts from God. Mine have shown me how to better trust God by how they trust me. In caring for them I've come to appreciate how much God cares for me. Information technology brings me joy to see them happy. That reminds me that I bring God joy when I enjoy all He does for me. When they appreciate my care, I desire to let my Shepherd know how much I appreciate Him.

How exercise nosotros care for our animals? Discover how your heavenly Father cares for you and pass it on.

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Cartoon from her walk with Christ, and decades as a Christian counselor, jitney, and Bible teacher, Debbie West. Wilson helps women give themselves a break so they tin bask the fruitful and satisfying life establish only in God's grace. She is the laurels winning writer of Lilliputian Women, Large God, Requite Yourself a Break, and Picayune Faith, Large God. She and her husband Larry founded and run Lighthouse Ministries , a nonprofit counseling, coaching, and Bible study ministry. She is an AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Clan) certified speaking and writing coach. Debbie enjoys a good mystery, dark chocolate, and the antics of her two standard poodles. Refresh your faith with free resources at debbieWwilson.com .