Reaping our Fields

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge… You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 23:22

These are certainly crazy times! These are the times when light casts it’s revealing brightness on the disadvantaged that separates the have’s and the have not's. It is the segment of society whom God commanded us to help during all times. Since the time of Leviticus God displayed His heart regarding this group of people. I know that it must break God’s heart to see the empty grocery shelves…the disappointed faces of those disadvantaged who made the trip for one item of necessity. But people are ravaging the shelves, hoarding in plenty what others lack. Last night I saw an Instagram post from my bighearted niece in Texas. Her post was a generational reminder in 2020 of what the Lord commanded a few thousand years ago. When you reap… gather…collect…do not reap until it is gone…leave some of whatever you are gathering for the sake of the disadvantaged. Hoarding is another word for unbelief that God is who He says He is, and He will do what He has promised…to provide.

We each have had times in our lives when we were hungry living on the edge of comfort. Hungry for acceptance…hungry for love…hungry for food…hungry for a listening ear…hungry for friendship…hungry for a job. I’m sure that we can each remember a caring soul who reached out to us making time on their calendar for us… ‘not reaping their fields right up it its edge.’ Yesterday for the fourth day I found myself staring at massive empty shelves. I never noticed how tall the shelves were, but their barrenness exaggerated their stature.

Leaving harvest around the edge of our fields means making time for someone who needs a listening soul. Leaving harvest around the edge means sharing the basic needs that we have in excess sitting on a shelf in a closet. Leaving harvest around the edge means leaving time in your day to lift prayers for the poor…the frightened…the exhausted. God has given us a beautiful test when dealing with those living on the edge of society.

“‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:37-40

As we gather groceries into our baskets, may our eyes be opened to the 'least of these.' Thank you sweet Morgan for echoing God's commands from yesteryear!