![[Photo of a Scripture verse]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/Deuteronomy_24_19.jpg)
| “When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” |
| —Deuteronomy 24:19 |
In our current left-leaning society, I have two strikes against me. I am a lifelong Conservative. And, I am an Evangelical Christian. I would be hard pressed to obtain employment at virtually any secular college or university. I am scorned in the press. I am constantly abused by liberal pundits in the broadcast media. I am derided, despised, and generally treated as a third-class citizen because of my strongly held beliefs.
I am also grossly misunderstood by liberals who do not know me. Contrary to their characterizations of me—and most people who hold similar beliefs to mine—I am not a racist. I am not homophobic. I am not xenophobic. I am not a sexist—in fact, I have championed and celebrated the cause of women joining my chosen profession, fire protection engineering, all my career. I do not hate the poor. I do not favor the wealthy. Virtually every slur that is hurled my way is false. And, I am certain I am not alone.
I have many friends who are Conservatives and Evangelical Christians who also feel abused by our secular, liberal society. We are falsely accused and imagine that our plight will only worsen over time. We feel ignored, despised, belittled, marginalized, and hated.
That’s why this particular verse of Scripture is so precious to those of us who, like me, are Conservative and Evangelical Christian. This verse is one of many instructions by God to His chosen people, the Jews. It embodies a principal that I heartily embrace. Here’s what God said, as recorded in Deuteronomy 24:19:
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
This is a verse about sharing—sharing the fruits of our labors. God wants us to share the work of our hands (and minds and hearts) with those in need. The individuals mentioned in this verse did nothing to “deserve” this largesse. They did not till the soil. They did not plant the seed. They did not weed the ground. They did not harvest the grain. Yet, God asks the ones who did perform all those hard tasks to share the bounty of their labors with those less fortunate than they are.
While we “Christ’s-ones” are no longer under the Law, but under the Covenant of God’s grace, we still can learn a valuable lesson from this verse. In fact, because we Christians are grafted into the vine of God’s chosen people (Romans 11:11-24), we can blessedly own this verse and follow its instruction.
You see—liberal pundits who hate us so please take note—we Evangelical Christians fully believe that all that we are and all that we have has come to us as a precious gift from God. Therefore, we believe that we have a responsibility to do as God instructs. So, if God tells us to share the fruits of our labors with those in need, that is exactly what we intend to do.
Now, we may not at all agree with the way secular society decides to implement help for the poor. But, that is a discussion for another day. We stand firmly on the fact that instead of hating the poor and needy, we Evangelical Christians stand ready, willing, and able to show our caring by sharing. And, sharing is exactly what we do through countless rescue missions, homeless shelters, retirement communities, unwed mother care homes, and a score of other community efforts supported by Evangelical Christians across this land and around the world.
As we begin a new day, let’s pray for those who despise us and not be surprised at the way they choose to treat us. Did not Jesus tell us what to expect in Matthew 5:11? No matter what others may say about us or do to us, we can remain faithful to the calling that God has placed on our lives. We can show the compassion of our Savior to everyone in need. And, we can do so knowing that we are being obedient to God’s command.
