08/01/2019
We are Christians, and we are told to feed the hungry, but do we leave anything in our fields for them to glean? Do we give a little food, but leave nothing for those who are hungry to gather behind us in honest labor as we harvest our fields? How do we help the less fortunate while maintaining their dignity?
“And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."”
Ruth 2:2 ESV
When I was a boy I walked along the roadsides to go wherever I needed to go, and as I walked I always searched the sides of the road for discarded bottles. You see, in those days soft drinks were purchased in glass bottles, and if you returned those bottles to the store you would receive a nickel (5 cents) deposit for each one in return. The bottles were then sent back to the bottling company where they were washed, sterilized, and reused.
There were many people in those days that would drink their soft drink and throw the used bottle out their car window where it would land in the drain ditch or brush beside the road. So as I walked, I would search the ditches, and bushes for discarded bottles, and return them to the store for the deposit. This wasn’t grain, but it was a form of gleaning. I was gathering what others didn’t find worth the effort, and collected the deposits for them. Some of this money I saved, and some I used to buy a soda for myself, and on a good day, a piece of candy.
I celebrated with a shout, and thanked God with the exclamation “Thank you Lord!” each time I found a discarded bottle. I felt like I had earned the deposit money by my efforts. It wasn’t as if I had been given a handout.
So what does the Bible say about working, and how are we to give to those in need? Well, first we need to realize that working is honorable and doesn’t diminish the self worth of the one who does so. We are told, no, we are commanded, not to be idle. Listen to this passage of scripture...
“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:6-8 ESV
This is interesting scripture because Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, were holy men, and as such they would have typically been fed by those households along the way. So why were they working, and not behaving according to custom? Let’s read a bit further...
“It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.”
2 Thessalonians 3:9 ESV
So by working Paul was making a point, and teaching a lesson to them regarding how they too were to live. He was instructing the Thessalonians in the honor of work, and in providing for themselves. You see... it was better for the spirit of that person to glean grain in the wealthy man’s field than to take a handout. As a matter of fact the next verse makes this point rather harshly...
“For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV
Wow... this sounds pretty cruel, but a culture of laziness had arisen among these people, and this command was meant to break it; to return people to the honor of a hard day’s work, and self provision. The next verse adds further clarity to this point...
“For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.”
2 Thessalonians 3:11 ESV
So what are we to do about those who are starving due to famine, are incapable of work, or who have fallen on hard times and need a hand? Does this preclude us from helping them directly... certainly not!
“Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”
Proverbs 14:31 ESV
Yet the fact still remains that the culture of the people should be one of hard work, and self preservation. Even the less fortunate who work for meager wages bring honor upon themselves by helping those less fortunate than them. The burden of helping the needy doesn’t fall strictly on the rich. Scripture says this much when it refers to the most sinful of sluggards... thieves who live on the labor of others...
“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Ephesians 4:28 ESV
Interesting that no mention was made in this verse of the thief lifting himself from sin. No, the point being made here is a rather strong one... we work to share.
So as we look around ourselves today, what is the culture we see, is our society trapped in the idle mindset of the Thessalonians, or are we working hard? Are we sharing what we have... even when it isn’t much? If we are wealthy, are we giving, and leaving something in our fields that will allow others an opportunity to work, and gather honorably?
“Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.”
Ecclesiastes 5:12 ESV
Hard work, honorable work, these are virtuous, just as providing for those in need is. So how are we doing in this regard? If Paul was to write us today would we not be eating tomorrow?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for teaching me the honor in working hard and giving. Thank you for providing for me so that in even my most humble of circumstances I can give and be viewed honorable in your sight. Increase my provisions Lord, so that my giving might protect the poor souls who would be taken advantage of in their hunger and thirst. Help my portion to provide help to them so that they won’t become prey for the wicked. Let my conscience be clean, and my sleep be sweet when I rest my head each night. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who leads me to glean the grain of righteousness in your fields, and to be invited to your table as Ruth was. Praised be your name for bringing honor to my soul as I labor in your will, and for feeding me in my times of desperate need. Your mercy is only overshadowed by the loving grace you pour out through Jesus Christ, and in this... all glory is yours forevermore.
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV
Rich Forbes