The story of Ruth finds her gleaning in the fields for food. Boaz, the owner of the field instructed his workers to leave the very edges of the fields for the poor to glean. Harvest all but the very edges, he instructed them. This is such a beautiful concept and a wonderful way to take care of the poor, the widows and orphans. This was a practice in those days and one way God instructed his people to help those in need without demeaning them. Leave the edges of your fields unharvested so travelers and those in need could help themselves.
"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." Leviticus 19:9 (NIV)
How can we practice this today? This has me wondering, how indeed? I know of more than one person who has been in a difficult financial position for a season and an anonymous note would arrive in the mail with a substantial check inside. This generous gift was able to meet their needs for a time. Other situations have been told of electric bills being paid by a secret donor; bags of groceries appear on front door stoops.
"Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:10)
All of these anonymous gifts are forms of allowing others to glean from our fruitful fields.
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