“When you harvest your land, don’t harvest right up to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings from the harvest. Don’t strip your vineyard bare or go back and pick up the fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am God, your God.
-Leviticus 19:9-10 (MSG)

I think it’s easy for most people today to overlook a passage of scripture like this and assume it’s not applicable. The reason being that most of us do not grow our own crops and, and thus the harvest lifestyle is generally just not something that most in the 21st century can relate to.

However, the point of the law was not about crops but rather about people. It’s purpose was for the poor and the foreign travelers who had no food or money to buy any. God was making it clear that the poor/foreigners had a need, and it was the Israelites’ job to provide and fill it. In a way, God was emphasizing his character of generosity. In essence he was reinforcing the idea that the land was his to begin with, and the people were just the caretakers.

Obviously, I’m not a farmer and I can’t say I’ve ever grown much of the food I eat. God does provide for me though. My money and possession are really all his, and I’m only the caretaker. So the question is: Am I looking to fill a need, especially with the poor, with what God has blessed me with? Or, am I only thinking of myself, keeping everything I’ve got and hoarding it all away?

God, it’s all yours anyway. Thank you for giving me a plentiful harvest. Please help me leave the edges of my fields for your use.