Bible in a Year :
When you are harvesting in your field . . . leave [some] for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.
A few years ago, our church was invited to host refugees fleeing their country after a tumultuous change in political leadership. Entire families came with only what they could fit in a small bag. Several of our church families opened their homes, including some who had little room to spare.
Their gracious hospitality reflects God’s triple command to the Israelites when they entered the promised land (Deuteronomy 24:19-21). As an agricultural society, they understood the importance of the harvest. The crops were essential to get them through until next year. This makes God’s command to “leave [some] for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow” (v. 19) also a request to trust Him. The Israelites were to practice generosity not by giving only when they knew they had enough but giving out of a heart that trusts God’s provision.
Such hospitality was also a reminder “that [they] were slaves in Egypt” (vv. 18, 22). They were once oppressed and destitute. Their generosity was a reminder of God’s graciousness to them in freeing them from bondage.
Believers in Jesus are similarly urged to be generous. Paul reminds us, “Though [Christ] was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). We give because He gave to us.
Reflect & Pray
When has someone helped you when you were in need? How will you give to others while trusting God’s provision for you?
Dear Father, please open my eyes to the needs of the marginalized in my community.
Good message this morning Mayor.
I grew up with his mentality from my parents. It was not from a biblical or Christ direction, but rather my parents were just very hospitable.
Mother was always cooking for other people and delivering food or having them over at our house. My brother and I were always on a short notice that our room would be given up for a period of time to travelers. We both had double beds and even though there was only one bathroom in the small Cape Cod bungalow we lived in we always had a constant rotation of visitors for a meal or for any given length of time to visit Or get on their feet financially and be in a stable situation.
We’ve lost some of that in our society. And right now it’s understandable with the large amount of immigrants that are illegal and possibly just here to do us harm — how can one not be suspicious