Here Are My Findings About What Does The Bible Say About Loving Animals More Than Humans?
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 1:26 explains that humanity is sovereign over the animals. However, this sovereignty is actually in a stewardship.
Dominion does not mean aggressive control but care and protection of all living beings.
I have seen this verse used all too frequently to justify the exploitation of animals.
Upon further examination, however, dominion is very much like stewardship in that we have been given authority over the earth as overseers on God’s part.
This is a care that has to respect our distinctiveness as human beings and the place we have been granted in creation, but also one which recognises animals are part of God’s created work.
I think that our role here is not as conquerors but as custodians. We can affirm our love for animals while keeping our responsibilities to mankind.
Proverbs 12:10
In Proverbs 12:10, being righteous is a moral obligation to animals.
As per Proverbs 12:10, being righteous itself has a wide range.
It also goes for animals.
I also remember how many times we saw people doing incredibly meaningful work related to animals who were moved by their faith.
How we treat animals says a lot about us morally.
Compassion for animals is the first step in becoming a better human.
When we are empathetic and nurturing of our fellow living beings who rely on us, it spreads out automatically in our dealings with other humans as well.
As such, the love of animals cannot take precedence and must rather be in addition to our fellow men.
Luke 15:4-6
In Luke 15:4-6, Jesus explains the worth of every living being.
This Bible verse is about caring for the vulnerable.
We should value animals over humans.
We must act with compassion universally.
Genesis 9:9-10
In Genesis 9:9-10, there is a covenant with all creatures.
It makes it clear that the promise extends beyond humans.
When animals must be included in God’s covenant, such as at the time of Noah, we can see how they also play some significant part in setting things right and along with it is divine justice that is done.
It is a sign of how God’s love and promises reach out from beyond humanity to the corners of all creation.
The covenant we share with every created thing places a moral imperative upon us all to honor and nurture life as part of our larger duty toward the stewardship of God’s creation.
This helps us understand our responsibilities as stewards of this earth with compassion. It teaches us to understand animals as a sacred relation with the Creator.
And loving animals within that framework means not just keeping our end of the bargain by taking care of them.
Genesis 6:19-20
In Noah’s tale (Genesis 6:19-20), attention is brought to care for every living thing.
I’m Bulgarea Candin Stefan and I have started Spiritual Whirlwinds to pass my learnings from my spiritual journey. Spiritualwhirlwinds.com provides a space of spiritual awakening with guided meditations, e-books, mantras, and pendulum readings.
