The way I see it, the sustainable development goals as established by the United Nations, with the year 2030 designated as the year by which all 17 goals should be achieved, are not really reinventing the wheel.
Why? Simply because, our great God-the master designer, had already put such sustainable mechanisms in place to help Man to become more healthy and happy.
I attended a workshop earlier in the week, which was organized by the Ministry of Social Development and was ably facilitated by that very knowledgeable Brick Kiln son of the soil, Mr. Leonard Stapleton, who not only took us through the theoretical aspects but went further and coordinated a wonderful tour of specific business entities in St. Kitts.
Well I newa!
Let’s look now at the established goals:
No poverty; Zero hunger; good health and wellbeing; quality education; gender equality; clear water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions and partnerships for the goals.
Every single one of them is something that we all yearn and hope for but recognize that they will take some tremendous work if they are to become realities in our lives. Additionally, in each of the seventeen goals, there is the underpinning motivation of an improved life.
However, as I listened intently and fed on the much food for thought, it occurred to me that our mighty God had already put certain measures in place, which if they had been adhered to, there would have been no need for the United Nations’ intervention, with all respect to that international body.
- No poverty-
And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. The bible is clearly stating that we should look out for those who are in need.
- Zero Hunger-
Proverbs 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
- Good health and wellbeing-
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
God even instituted proper Refuse disposal techniques when he instructed Adam to dress and keep the garden—Genesis : 2: 15
God went further and he knew that some men would want to be urinating all over the place and he said:
Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
- Quality education-
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
God wants us to be educated but most importantly to be knowledgeable and obedient as it pertains to his will for our lives
- Gender equality-
Genesis 2: 21: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Significantly, from the onset, God made Eve from a rib taken from Adam’s side. This connotes EQUALITY and she was to be a HELP MEET—not a HELPER.
- Clear water and sanitation-
Genesis 1:7
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
God gave us fresh, pure water and he is also the WATER OF LIFE. He offers salvation full and free.
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life
- Affordable and clear energy-
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
God the ultimate light, is the source of real, affordable energy
- Decent work and economic growth-
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
God intended for us to work hard for our livelihood, All legitimate work is DECENT and every single job is important.
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure-
Genesis 1:31: And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
So from the onset, God put all of the basic infrastructure and industries in place. Don’t talk about innovation!
- Reduced inequalities-
- Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
We have an all wise God. He knew that man would become SELFISH and he gave guidance away from such attitudes.
- Sustainable cities and communities-
These cities were everyone with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
The fact that the cities all had suburbs round about them, suggests a comfortable lifestyle with everyone working to maintain that lifestyle.
- Climate action-
Genesis 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
So, God gave us the perfect climate-created out of nothing and we have not done a good job in preserving it.
- Life below water—
Genesis 1:
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind
- Life on land—
Genesis 1: 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
- Peace, justice and strong institutions-
None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
God knew that MAN TO MAN WOULD BE SO UNJUST. He wants to guide us away from such negative behaviours, so that we can exist in a state of peace and harmony.
- Partnerships for the goals-
God wants us to collaborate in order to achieve these goals.
So, the United Nations is not coming up with any new thing. God had already put things in place for our wellbeing but because of SIN, we have made a mess of things.
We still have the chance to redeem ourselves, individually and collectively. But we have to submit to God’s will and his way and do our utmost to make the place we live in conducive to good health and wellbeing.
If we trust him—WE CAN! That’s the way I see it. How do you see it?