Momentum For Monday, March 28th 2022

“Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you…” (Leviticus 19:9-10)

Sometimes when reading through Scripture, I'll find little verses that just speak to me in small ways. It's not a life-changing moment type of thing I'm talking about. It could be a small phrase that catches my eye. It could also be verses that give a glimpse into the heart and character of God or the Kingdom of Heaven.

I would never suggest to a new Christian to read through the book of Leviticus first. It's not necessary an easy read and can be quite confusing. However, chapter nineteen and verse nine has always stayed with me since the first time I read it.  

People think God is a bi-polar God when reading from Old Testament to New. They often see the wrath of the Old Testament and the grace of the New Testament and just disconnect. He's not bi-polar or schizophrenic at all. He's always been loving. He's always been generous. Verses like this always showed me that he was just misunderstood and taken out of context (even from when I questioned him).

The laws of Leviticus were given to create healthy boundaries so that order and functionality would prevail for all. I'm not trying to teach on the Old Testament here but instead drive home the idea of generosity and provision. God had, and still has, a system in place to benefit everyone so that no one would lack.

We've been on the subject of spring and planting, but I want to drive home one last thought. Your season of harvest will come. And hopefully, you'll enjoy many. But when you do enjoy your harvest, don't forget Leviticus 19:9. As my momma would say to us kids when we would eat desserts, "Don't take it all for yourself. Save some for others."

And even though this is an Old Testament concept, it didn't change in the New Testament. God still wants us to be generous. He still wants us to think of others. In other words, give back. Don't just consider your wants and needs. In other words, "Don't take it all for yourself. Save some for others."

“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?”

(1 John 3:17)