Good morning. There is this command in Leviticus 19:9-10 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
We all know that modern farming practices use about every inch of the farmland available when planting and harvesting. Is this passage from the Old Testament Law commanding against such plans?
Not really, or at least I don’t think so. I believe that this command reflects the heart of God and has a much broader application than how to plant and how to harvest. I believe that God is telling His people to always plan for, to make allowances for, those who are less fortunate than yourself.
When you read the Book of Ruth you see that she was one of those less fortunate people who were allowed to scrounge what was left of the harvest on the edges and in the corners of the field. She and her mother-in-law Naomi were poor people without many options, and the righteous landowner Boaz saw to it that she would have an opportunity to gather from the leftovers enough to meet their needs.
For us, I think that this revelation of the heart of God tells us to make sure that when we are conducting our business day to day to remember that there are those around us who are not as fortunate as ourselves. We are to leave some margins in our life so that we are able to share with them a portion of that which the Lord is blessing us.
We may not have a field, but we all have something to share. It may not be tallied in dollars and cents; it may be our time or our effort that we are willing to share. But the Lord is blessing us, and I believe that His command to the farmers so long ago is a reflection of His heart and intention for His people. Do Not Reap to the Corners in your life, leave something to share! Be a blessing as you are being blessed.
Vern