So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” (Ruth 2:2)

Gleaning In The Corners

God has always defended the weak and impoverished people. As Creator, the Lord made man in His image to glorify Him. He is not a respecter of persons and has no interest in the divisions of economy between rich and poor. The commandments of God have always been for the rich to have benevolent hearts towards the needy, with provisions made to care for the unfortunate. The principles of benevolence toward one another are clearly defined in the story of Ruth.

In the days of Israel, when judges ruled the land, a famine came upon the nation. A man called Elimelech from Bethlehem took his wife and two sons to Moab, where Elimelech would die shortly after arriving in the far land. His two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. Ten years later, the two sons died, leaving Naomi destitute with her two daughters-in-law. Naomi returned to Judah, telling Orpah and Ruth to return to their families. Ruth desired to remain with Naomi and returned with her to Bethlehem.

The situation for Naomi and Ruth was dire. Without their husbands, the women must fend for themselves. Ruth asked her mother-in-law if she would permit her to go to the fields and glean heads of grain after the reapers. Like many poor people of the land, Ruth worked in the field all day gathering up what was left over from the reapers. The benevolent heart of the owner of the field, Boaz, allowed Ruth to gather grain among the sheaves without the reproach of the reapers. Boaz and Ruth married and became the great-grandparents of David, the king. Ruth, a Moabite woman, is found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

God included in the Law of Moses commandments that when a field is being harvested, the corners would not be gathered, and the field would not be totally gleaned. This included vineyards of grapes that were not to be wholly picked. God wanted the poor to have the opportunity to harvest what was left over. These were not suggestions but commandments of the Lord, qualified by the declaration, “I am the Lord your God.”

The reason God required His people to provide for the poor was to remember how they were once strangers and slaves in Egypt. If a sheaf of grain was forgotten, they were forbidden to go back for it. Beating the olive trees could only be done once without going over the boughs again. Vineyards were not to be stripped of grapes. The stranger, the fatherless, and the widow would be allowed to gather what is left over in the fields, orchards, and vineyards. This was to remind the people of God how blessed they were to have the storehouse of His blessings given to them in bounty. They were once slaves in Egypt, subjected to hardships and lack of food. God delivered them with innumerable blessings and brought them to a land of milk and honey. Remembering people in need among them was to remember how needy they were at one time.

There was no choice for the people to leave the corners and fruits of the land for the poor and needy. God commanded it. The land owner may look upon the corners and leftover olives and grapes as his, but God commanded him to leave it for others. The greedy man would take all of it for himself. Jesus told a parable of a rich fool who had no interest in helping others and lost his soul because of it. The people of God are benevolent spirits who know the blessings of the Lord are great. Having a willingness to share is the character of the Christian. The apostle Paul said one of the purposes of having a job is to share with others.

Do we leave corners for others to gather? Is the spirit of benevolence in our hearts? It will teach us not to trust in riches and give greater joy in sharing what God has richly blessed with others. This type of spirit is not found in the world but should be found in the church among God’s people. Covetousness robs us of the kindness we can show to others. Let the light of Christ shine in the manner we leave the corners for others.