Thought from today’s Bible reading from Leviticus 19-21.
Sadly, helping the poor is a contentious issue in our society. It is not so much that people do not want to help the poor – most good, moral people want help to be provided. The issue is over how to best help the poor and whether this help should come from individuals, churches, charities, or government agencies.
The Law of Moses contains a way to help the poor and the stranger among the people. While we do not live under the same Law or with the same circumstances, there are principles that should help us determine how we can best help those in need.
“Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:9-10).
Notice some reasons why this arrangement would be beneficial to all:
- There would always be help for the needy. As long as the ground was producing for the land owners, the needy could also be fed.
- One had to be willing to work (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:10). He could not take advantage of others. The help was provided; but he would have to exert some effort to go out to the fields, work, and provide for himself.
- There would be no government involvement as bureaucracies are always too inefficient to carry out such a work as well as they intend (cf. Ecclesiastes 5:8).
Tomorrow’s reading: Leviticus 22-23
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
