“If you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your bag. If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.
God had a prescribed solution for those who were poor in the land. In the above passage we read that God allowed the poor to enter the crop field of those who were more well off. The poor were not forbidden to do so. Rather, they were allowed to enter the land and eat whatever food they wanted. But, it was for immediate consumption. It was not to be gathered or harvested. The owner of the field was to allow them to eat what they could eat, but was not obligated to allow them to harvest and take food with them. This showed two sides of the poverty issue. Those in poverty were obligated to do the work to feed themselves. They were not allowed to just take from others and there were not allowed to just beg. They actually had to go into the field and do the work. But, the owners of the field were also obligated to allow this to happen. They were not to forbid the poor from entering their field. They were not to post “no trespassing” signs. In fact, in Leviticus we read this command to those who owned the field of crops:
Leviticus 23:22 (ESV)
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.”
They were to actually plan on others coming into their fields. They were to “set aside” some of their land for that soul purpose. In today’s mindset that might mean we earn money but set some aside and not spend it all on self. We might plan on being ready to help the poor. But, the poor are not to be just given what is set aside. Rather, they have an obligation to do some work, or put some effort to care for themselves. This was God’s method of caring for the poor. The logistics would look different today, but the principles remain the same.
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