A Note from Kim: Pets have been a part of my life since I can remember. But until a few years ago when my own little four year old pug, Chunky, died suddenly and unexpectedly, I didn’t think too much about the importance of pets in God’s eyes. I was aware of Proverbs 12:10 and the importance of treating animals kindly and caring for animals and their needs
, but animals are animals and certainly not on the level of importance with people. This is true, of course, but I didn’t understand the value that some people placed on their dogs or cats or other animals, and I didn’t understand their grief when their pets died. I was also pretty adamant that animals would not be resurrected when Jesus returns. I had heard no clear evidence for our animals to be in “heaven” according to Scripture, therefore, the idea that animals MIGHT be resurrected was just silly from my perspective. HOWEVER, after the initial grief of losing my little Chunky pug, I did search the S
cripture more carefully. The Lord used this time in my life, teaching me to be more sensitive and empathetic with those who have lost a pet, and although I have no proof that our beloved pets will be in heaven, I learned some interesting things about God’s view of pets in Scripture. My study, along with a comment from my then four-year-old grandson, Cami, resulted in “Pet Theology from a Four-Year-Old”, which you can find on my Facebook page.
It was around the same time as Chunky died that Chris Brockow’s first book, Transition, was published. Chris is a great guy with a gentle, kind spirit. He and his wife, Helen, attend our church, Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ. They are faithful followers of Jesus and they love animals. Chris and Helen are great examples of how we, as people of faith who desire to live righteously, should care for our four-legged friends. Chris and Helen experienced the loss of a special pet, Suzie, and out of that loss came Chris’s book, Transition, available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.com. I asked Chris to write for ProverbWise this month because being a man of integrity includes kind treatment and care for our animals, and he is one of the best examples of this that I know.
What We Do For Our Pets, God Does For Us
by Chris Brockow
Proverbs 12:10 New International Version
The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
How many of us are attached to our pets?
I know I am, and I also believe that God has given us our dogs, cats, etc. to love and care for, just as He loves and cares for us.
If we break it down for what we do for our pets, such as;
- Give them shelter
- Give them food
- Give them water
- Take them for walks
- Teach them to obey us (Sit, stay, wait and come.)
- Hold them
- Love them
When we treat our pets this way, it shows. They get so happy when they go on walks, when they eat and when we get on the floor to love, play and pet them. They also get upset when they know they have done something wrong. They look for that praise when they are good, but hate it when they know they upset us.
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We see that God does all of this for us.
- God gives us shelter.
[ Psalm 91 ] Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. …
- God gives us food.
Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.
3. God gives us water.
Revelation 21:6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
- We walk with God
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
5. We obey God
John 14:23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
- God holds us.
John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
- God loves us.
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
Conclusion by Kim: This was a great analogy between loving and caring for our pets and God’s love and care for us, His own people. There are many analogies regarding the character of God throughout Scripture, with specific events and actions revealing Him as the perfect Father or picturing Christ as the Lamb, so this is great picture of God as the caregiver and provider for His people. Thank you, Chris, for sharing this insight.