Leviticus 19:10 (ESV Strong's)
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.
Subject: The Poor
It is not hard to drive anywhere in the country and not find someone who is standing on the street in need of assistance for food, clothing and/or shelter. The difficulty is not helping them, but assuring we are doing the helping in the right way. Enabling them is not helping them. Giving them opportunity is different than simply giving. In Biblical days there were also those who needed help. The story of Ruth is a great example of the above text. Ruth, the Moabite, came back to Israel with her Hebrew mother-in-law (Naomi) and had no source of income for food. She began to glean in the field of Boaz and the gleaners were instructed to leave some grain behind for Ruth. Boaz was impressed with Ruth's initiative. Soon they were married. Giving opportunity is better than simple giving. Opening the door so someone can "earn" to care for their needs seem to be a way to give to others. Simply handing someone cash does not merit their worth. It doesn't show them their value simply to give a handout. It might sound trite, but a hand-up is always better than a handout. Opportunity to earn trumps a free gift.
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