Leave it

“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 23:22 NLT)

The message in this verse is so counter to the messages in our American culture. Our world calls us to live on the edge, to go the distance, grab it all. But God's Word says, leave space, have left-overs, share. Our culture urges us to not only consume all we have, but to wander into fields we might have in the future and take more from there (a.k.a. debt). But Scripture teaches us to use less than we have so we can participate with God in caring for others. 

I think this applies not only to food, as in this passage, but to all of life: time, engery, attention, as well as money and things. We are not only to leave grain at the edge of our fields, but take a weekly sabbath so we have the engery to bear one another's burdens, leave the gleanings so we can give to the poor. In Psalm 23 we learn that God fills our cup to overflowing. Why? Perhaps so others can enjoy the extra, not so we can slurp up the excess from the saucer.

A starting place in learning to do this is to recognize and acknowlege that the field we harvest isn't ours to begin with. He gives some grain for us to have for our needs, and some for us to have so we can experience the joy of giving to others. Like the mother who gives her young son a dollar to buy his sister a birthday gift, so God gives to us so we can give to others. 

Why? Because "I am the Lord your God." Our God is a giving God (think of John 3:16). As those made in His image, as those seeking to grow in the likeness of Christ, we give. We do not harvest the edges of our fields or pick up what the harvesters drop. We leave it.

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To go more deeply into the theology of giving, wallow around in Miroslav Volf's insights in his book, Free of Charge, giving and forgiving in a culture stripped of grace.

The wrong question

“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” (John 9:2 NLT)

In the ninth chapter of John’s Gospel we find Jesus doing one of the things He does best. Healing. He heals blindness—two kinds of blindness. First and obvious, is the sight he gives to a blind man. But perhaps an even greater miracle happens as he exposes and begins to heal the blinding darkness of stigma woven by the man’s family and community.  In that day, illnesses were often attributed to sin. So the question the disciples asked of Jesus was not, “How did this happen?” because they had already figured that out. They knew the cause was sin. They just wanted Jesus to help them ascribe blame to the right party. Their question was, “Who sinned?”

 

But Christ would have none of it. “You are asking the wrong question,” he responded. He knew the question stemmed from wrong assumptions—presumptions that were based on ignorance and stigma.

 

In our day we often still ask the wrong questions about how some people find themselves in the situations they are in. How easy it is, for example, to look at those struggling with addictions, homelessness, mental illnesses, and make assumptions of why they are the way they are or how they got into the state they are in. Like the disciples, our assumptions are often based on ignorance or, worse, arrogance.

Perhaps the right question is revealed in Christ's reply to the wrong question: “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." (John 9:3 NLT). Maybe what we should be asking is, "Do I see the power of God in this person?" If not, perhaps I am the one who is blind.

The power of invitation

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming." Psalm 27:8

"Come."  It may be the most overlooked yet powerful word in the English language. It speaks of being included. Of belonging. It comforts us in our deepest area of need to say we are noticed. We matter. We are wanted.

Throughout the Scriptures God issues His invitations to us. 

To us who are longing.

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

To us who are weary.

[Jesus speaking] “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

To us who are aimless. 

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.  Matthew 4:19-20 (NLT)

To us who are soiled.

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”  Isaiah 1:18 (NASB)

To us who are willing.

And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  Matthew 14:29 (NASB) 

To you. To me. To us.  

"LORD, I am coming."

The Power of Invitation - Part Two

Go and Speak Likewise

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (NASB)

I think it is safe to believe that what God expects of us He expects of Himself. When He tells us to love our enemies, we can be sure He loves His. When He says to let our  "Yes be Yes" and our "No be No," we can be sure His are. So when He tells us what kind of words should come out of our mouths, we can listen for those to come out of His as well. What, then, might we hear?

First, they will be words that edify (build-up, encourage, impart hope, assure). When God speaks we are strengthened, lightened and empowered. So, when we hear in our heads/hearts, or through the mouths of others, words that tear down, discourage, burden, confuse, we can be sure those are not the words of God. We don't have to listen to them or absorb them or trust in them.

Second, God's words to us will be timely, addressing the current situation, today's questions, now-prayers. He is ever-present, giving daily bread and help at the time of need.

And, God's words will impress grace, filling us with both the peace and the power to be assured of His love, goodness, and presence.

Because that's how God speaks, in Ephesians 4:29 we are reminded to go and speak likewise.

In my own words

Over the years, one way I have learned to 'let the word of Christ dwell richly within' me is to rework passages of Scripture in my own words -- taking the thoughts expressed by the writer and re-expressing them in ways that are in keeping with my personality, my needs, my current realities, my growing knowledge of God. Below is a recent example. See also:  Eighty-nine nine and My Psalm 144:12-14; 

Psalm 143

1-2:  God, I am begging you to hear me and answer me. I know you will answer because of who you are are—faithful, good, mighty, right.  I have nothing to bargain with, nothing to offer. So I know your answer will not come as a reward or a payment for services rendered.

3-4: I feel like I have been attacked—ambushed, knocked down, assaulted. I can't see where this is coming from, or the way out. And I am losing all sense of feeling. Like a dead person, I am lifeless and dumb. Fear and hopelessness have rendered me helpless and impotent. I have no strength or wisdom to get out of this.

5-6: But I do remember other times when this happened before. And I recall what you did then. How mighty and kind and gracious you were. That memory gives me the courage to pray now, though weak and needy.

7:  I need you to act quickly. I don't think I can hold on much longer. I am so tired and overwhelmed. If you don't act right away, I just can't go on.

8-9:  At the beginning of each day, every day, today,  speak words of comfort and love and hope, O, Lord. I will look to you for that, and believe you will do it. And, as your words of love give me strength to press on, please show me what to do, where to go, how to act. Each day. Every day. Today. I surrender. Not to that which seeks to conquer me, but to you. I look to you.  Pull me out of my vulnerability, out of the open range where I am an easy-shot. Hide me where none can find me or hurt me. Hide me in you.

10:  And there, help me learn all I should from this experience  Teach me how to think, act and feel like the One in whose image I am made. And when I am restored, release to me the One who will guide me into all truth, that I may walk where I should without slipping or falling or going astray.

11: As I declared at the beginning, I am not asking you to do this as a reward or honor—for I have nothing due to me. I ask you to do this to show off your own kindness and faithfulness, for the honor of your own name. Don't let me die here. Now. Get me out of here, please.

12: As a part of your goodness; don't just save me. Also destroy them. All of them. Those that want to conquer me. So that they don't keep beating me down and keep me from serving you.