Black caps part 2

       In my Black Caps entry, I quoted from Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

       Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

       Deuteronomy 24:19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. 20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

 22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

       Clearly, the LORD commanded to not be greedy about harvest, to give the opportunity for the unfortunate to eat.

       My liberal friends might jump to their feet to shout “Hallelujah!” That’s ok, but this is only one facet of the LORD’s code of conduct regarding harvest. Please read what we find in Deuteronomy 23.

       Deuteronomy 23:24 When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel. 25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.

       The concept of ownership and rights is deeply endorsed by scripture. Certainly greed is sin. It is sin in the wealthy and in the poor. Being poor is no more virtuous than being wealthy. It’s what you do with what you’re given. It’s what you do in your heart about it.