We tend to forget that life in Bible times was fairly basic for most: quite hand-to-mouth, in fact. The connection with the land was more intense. People depended on their crops and skills whereas we are insulated from the impact of failures.
I made a mistake this week- I received some plug-plants and put them in the cold frame until I could get fresh compost to pot them on. Twenty four hours later most of the plantlets were dead, dry and shrivelled. An annoyance, frustration, and inconvenience- and all my fault for not making them a priority.
If I were a farmer, such a mistake would be a disaster. And if a whole section of society depended on me for food, it becomes a major disaster.
On holiday in Brittany some years back, we hired a small “gîte” on a farm; and all round us was rich farmland, intensively devoted to vegetables and fruit. It looked as though the harvest would be good- and sampling local goodies was a delight.
Now, I’m no expert on farming nor French culture: but for several years pastored rural English congregations who lived “in touch” with the seasons, especially Harvest. They were splendid celebrations, with generous gifts and displays and often a classy Harvest Supper.
It’s that aspect of generosity, in fact responsible generosity, that I am thinking of now. The Bible operates a clear principle of being generous. of giving to those in need, and celebrating God’s faithfulness and loving-kindness. He provides for our needs, and expects the faith community to act lovingly and generously.
In these days of hardship and economic uncertainty, it is healthy to revisit that instruction of responsible generosity. Here in 2 Chronicles is a demonstration of how a good leader (Hezekiah) instructed the nation in godly principles. An outcome of blessing to everyone seems to have been the result:
Hezekiah Organizes The Priesthood
He commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the law of the Lord. As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of all. The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the Lord their God, and placed them in heaps.
2 Chronicles 31 v4-6
In this example, some of the gifts were dedicated to the priesthood so they could be free to devote their time to minister on behalf of the People. They held on to the joy of festivals: time to relax, rejoice, feast, and supply the poorest and most needy. Just imagine if OUR governments and “big businesses” behaved in the same way! Imagine if the poorest received food and clothing consistently from the richness of God’s blessing.
Perhaps you think this too idealistic, fanciful or too dangerous to “profits”… yet I think God sends “prophets” to challenge the heartlessness of greed. What if we spent profits on PEOPLE instead of power? How many could be fed and sheltered for the price of a fast jet or a main battle tank?
O for a world with Hezekiahs instead of a Putin or Trump… for the citizens of the Kingdom of Christ to be consistently acting generously as an example to the world of Love in action…
Freely you have received, now freely give. (Matthew 10 v8)
The Reflectionary 