Penny-Pinching and Caring for the Needy: How to Practice ‘Gleaning’ Today

I have several good friends who have built their careers on helping either large businesses or private individuals maximize their profits.  “Every penny matters!” is the mantra this industry embraces – and embrace it they do.  If a couple of dollars can be saved switching toilet paper brands, say goodbye to Charmin.  And isn’t it right to be “penny-wise?” 

So, what do we as Christians make of the Old Testament command regarding gleaning?

‘Gleaning’ may be most precisely defined as the act of gathering up grain that has been left in the field after harvest.  In the modern era of farming, combines literally leave nothing behind, so the word seems strange to us.  Prior to the advent of our modern farming implements, grain was harvested by hand with a sickle, then gathered into sheafs which were in turn gathered and carried to a threshing floor where the grain itself would be separated from the stalk.  This was an imperfect process.  Invariably, some grain would escape the harvesters’ first pass and be left standing in the field.  Naturally, the responsible, wise farmer would then return to the field and make a second pass to gather what he missed the first time around, right?

Wrong!  In Leviticus 19:9-10 we read a command from God which should startle us:

“When you reap the harvest of your field you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.  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.”

Imagine that.  God insisted that his people be very careful NOT to harvest 100% of their crop.  In fact, he prescribed inefficiency!  There are three commands in this passge: (1) Do not harvest your field right up its edges.  Deliberately leave an unharvested margin; (2) If you miss something in your harvest, do not go back and get it; and, (3) do not pick up whatever falls to the ground via natural process (the fallen grapes).

Imagine a financial advisor giving that counsel to a couple saving up for their first house or to an HMO trying to maximize shareholders’ profits!

The reason God gives for this is quite simple: “I am the LORD your God.”  We recognize the fact (and act as if) He is and will continue to care for us.  We do not need to grasp at every single penny of profit we can squeeze out of every single investment we make.  And we reflect God’s concern for the poor and the displaced sojourner.  Because God our heavenly Father cares about such.

And notice where the responsibility for this radical work ethic lays: this command of God concerns your reaping, your field, your harvest, your vineyard…  This command of God concerns your personal, intentional commitment to allow others to share in the fruit of your labor.  Literally.

There are two mistakes we may make at this point.  The first is to assume that the gleanings are a handout to folks who are idle.  This is not in keeping with the divine command.  Rather, the poor and the sojourner are essentially invited to themselves gather the harvest of the margins, the gleanings, and the drops after you have done your harvesting.  Biblical ethics holds sacred the connection between work and wealth/food.  The second is to assume that this command should be corporately implemented – it is for big companies and millionaires to perform.  Nothing could be further from the intent of this command.  It is a command to you and your performance of your work.

But how can you do this today?  What does it look like?

Here are a couple of ideas you can consider.

• If you have gotten a good return on your car, and don’t need to trade it in for its replacement, give it to someone who needs transportation, or donate it to a charity that will do so.
• When negotiating prices and considering quotes (either as a consumer or as a provider), be sure to keep Philippians 2:1-4 in mind: “look not only to your own interest but also to the interests of others.”  It may be that many of us boast about deals we have haggled here and now that we will be ashamed of in the hereafter.
• If you are able to pay someone to help you with a job that you could do yourself, in the spirit of the field owner essentially sharing the harvesting job with the poor and sojourner, share your labor with someone in need and offer them a fair pay for mowing your lawn or repairing your vehicle – you don’t need to harvest to the very edges of your field.

No pun intended, but these are a few ‘gleanings’ from thoughts I have had over the years as I have wrestled with applying this text myself.  None of these possible applications are intended to be anything but suggestions!  But I would encourage each of you to prayerfully consider ways that you can pursue God’s prescribed work ethic – that requires leaving something for others.  I would love to hear your ideas in the comments!

Your Pastor,

Bob Bjerkaas

P.S. Financial advising is a wonderful and godly calling! And it is wise to count pennies – but foolish to grasp at them.

N.B. The image is Vincent Van Gogh’s chalk drawing entitled “Peasant Woman Gleaning.” This image is made available online by the Kroller-Muller Museum.