Bible Verse

Leviticus 19:9-10

[9] “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. [10] And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. (ESV)

Reflection

According to His lawful intention, God’s chosen people were to allow margin for the poor and for the sojourner. It is a system of community, dignity and trust. Provision for the foreigner is not the responsibility of any one person; the whole community participates by leaving something behind for collection. This also allows the poor or foreigner to maintain dignity: it is not a handout to beg for, but an opportunity to rest secure in. Finally, in leaving something behind for the benefit of others, there is implicit trust that the God who brings the harvest will provide enough.

Each one of us has been blessed with a “field.” Your field may be material wealth, it may be social status, it may be talent or privilege or time. What are you doing with the field you have been given?

Prayer

Lord, I praise you because I once was blind, but now I see. But for now what I see, I see dimly. Once again, I repent of my blindness; once again I admit that I need You to open my eyes.

I once was blind, please open my eyes to the goodness of Your grace.

I once was blind, please open my eyes to the dignity and value of every person, of each nation, You have created in Your image.

I once was blind, please open my eyes to the things that You have blessed me with.

I once was blind, please open my eyes to the opportunities to use these blessings to bless others.

I once was blind, please open my eyes to see Your children the way that You see them.

I once was blind, please open my eyes to the injustices that break Your heart, and to my role in restoring them.

I once was blind, please open my eyes to Your glory, for that is what sustains my hope.

Amen.

Question

What is are the “fields” that God has blessed you with? How can you utilize these to be a blessing for refugee communities?

Samantha Ervin is the Associate Director of Training & Education at the Humanitarian Disaster Institute. She earned a M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College ('19) and M.S. Management ('17) / B.S. Social Entrepreneurship ('16) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.