God, you, and the poor

  God, you, and the poor.

In the book of Exodus we read,

"For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. 

"Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed."Exodus 23:10-12.

This could be called “Gods welfare plan”. God tells the Israelites to leave the fields unplowed and unused. So that the poor may eat of what is in those fields. In book of Leviticus God states,

“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19: 9,10.

This is Gods way of providing for the poor.

Note also in Exodus God tells us to rest on the seventh day. And that means everyone in your household and the working animals. 

In Deuteronomy we read.

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land."Deuteronomy 15:11.

This is a commandment from God every believer I believe must follow. But sadly at least here in North America where I live, in society that goes twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, this is forgotten.

We as believers in Christ Jesus need to be doing what God is saying here. We need to be calling on our politicians, especially those who claim to be Christian to do more for the poor and needy.

Thus the question becomes, Are you doing what you can to help the poor and needy in y our community?

Please think about it.