Two-minute read.
‘When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the Lord your God.’”
Leviticus 23:22
God provides for the needy. Poverty exists, and as followers of Christ, we must help those less fortunate than ourselves. The Levitical law instructed workers not to harvest all the wheat, allowing the poor to come through after them, collecting the left-over stalks to nourish them. The book of Ruth illustrates how the Lord’s law provided for the widowed women and eventually led to the Moabite’s marriage to Boaz, placing her in the lineage of Christ. Dutifully, day after day, Ruth gathered grain from Boaz’s fields, working hard and gaining the attention of her kinsman redeemer.
As Christ’s followers, we must continually search our hearts and ensure we help those less fortunate than us. For us, supporting local missions that help the homeless and international organizations that care for people in third-world countries through financial donations ensures our contributions reach those who need them. In my daily life, when I see a need, I try to meet the need if possible. Overtipping servers allows me to leave stalks in the field for others. Maintaining a soft heart and remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting helps me assist those less fortunate.
Often, we focus on what we don’t have instead of what we do have. Acknowledging the blessings the Lord gives us helps us share them with others. The things of this world will pass away; we should hold them loosely and not get too attached. Instead, remembering those less fortunate and finding ways to assist them will help us keep things in perspective.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the blessings in our lives; help us share them willingly with others, leaving stalks behind for those less fortunate. Make us sensitive to the needs of others and give us opportunities to assist them when possible.
IJNIP. Amen
