When telling a friend I was going to write on this, he sent me a big text from his ChatGPT app that I don’t know how to send to my laptop where I’m typing this now, but I did find this on the passage. I don’t know how many nations practice anything like this today, but there weren’t any welfare systems in Moses’ time, and Israel, by God’s command, was supposed to be the first ever to implement generosity for those from other countries looking for hope and love that they couldn’t get from what they were following (that is, the idols of their lands). It’s too bad USAID was gutted, though… it’s not cool that Trump shut it down to make himself richer than ever, and his fanboys (which comprise at least the 29% Americans who espouse “Christian” nationalism, meaning there’s about 100 million people in the U.S. alone who believe this damnable heresy) — all of them love it. But I don’t even identify with the U.S., really, for they recrucified Jesus for themselves, even after seeing God’s glory in many places in different parts of the world. Indeed, because they have done this, God’s curse is upon them and all their families and those who follow this, even in different countries. So if I were to preach the Gospel in these lands, some of them will probably follow me there and harass the receivers of the Lord’s Word, just as Paul’s enemies had done with him during his missionary journeys like in Acts 17:1-15. But this passage is found in page 69 of the NKJV Bible I’m using for this four-translation project, page 89 of the NASB Bible I’m using for this, page 146 of my VOICE copy, and page 144 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy.
And after I read the passage again, I realized I wanted to do a double gleaning on my lands and not pick up anything to leave for those who can’t afford it… but that’s me. I’m the broke guy! I found out the poverty threshold in Arizona (as of about a year ago) is roughly $32,000/year (gross income) and I made several thousand bucks or so less than that last year 💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸 I still can’t pay my debts back because I don’t have a high-paying job, but at least they’ll be forgiven at the end of April 2039 if nothing happens… and that’s a BIG if. For we know how unpredictable the leaders in this country are, akin to some funny stuff I’ve faced in the past, of which I can’t put into detail right now, nor can I mention how much my savings is (but at least I got it to a desired amount tonight! Thank God!) — I do like how it was commanded in those days, but I wish the Israelites hadn’t requested empty religion by means of God’s words in Exodus 16:28-29 (this showed how Canaan’s influences were still in all Israel in those days, for the Canaanites had a strong influence in Egypt while Jacob’s descendants were living there, and everyone followed that stuff, having ignored God’s faithfulness to Jacob and the patriarchs) — so that there’d be works-based religion no one could follow in the first place. But Jesus followed that perfectly! Thank God He’s Heaven’s Son! As for me, if I were a rich farmer, I believe God would command me to follow the instructions of the passage in the title of this post but leave twice as much, at least. Indeed, this sort of giving (and other giving commandments that were in Old Testament passages like Malachi 3:10) was (and still is recommended) to be the floor… but that sort of thing is usually used by unscrupulous men behind pulpits to get rich off the backs of others, such as what the Lord hadn’t commanded. We need to be careful not to fall into the temptation of greed. It’s nice to have a big sum of cash if you can get it, but we need to use it for God’s economy, not solely for our own benefit. I do want to give my family a lovely Christmas every year, though.
If someone mentions that this is required for following Jesus today, they’re actually deeply and sorely mistaken. Look at Acts 15:1-35, Galatians 2:15-5:26, and even Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, and Luke 18:19… not to mention Ezekiel 20:25-26. And when they challenge these truths saying that there were many good things that must be implemented, knowing we’re saved for works and not from them, as James 2:14-26 says, they’re actually using these principles as a stumbling block to those who’ve lived on empty religion all their lives and wanted to follow something else! This isn’t what the James 2 passage is for. Indeed, too often people contradict the other Scriptures with this one. But God doesn’t look at how much you’ve done, good or bad, given the Hebrew for Isaiah 64:6. Literally. But if someone can’t get to a generous human being who does anything like this, I’m really sorry 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 I wish I could get to some of the homeless people a bunch of good food in downtown Phoenix or even for some homeless friends who stay nearby the store I work at… it really breaks my soul because that can happen to anyone, and I know that none of the homeless people staying there deserve their plight. But there’s not enough good people in the world, and I still have much more debt than savings, and that’s saying something. I pray these guys are safe tonight 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 I put two bags with a bunch of clothes in a bin for those who don’t have much clothing, if any, recently, for Jesus said what He said in Matthew 25:31-46 for a reason. I don’t think I can do enough in my community to eliminate poverty for good, and Gilbert’s the #1 most prosperous area in the U.S. (but I’m staying somewhere else) — so what does God want me to do in terms of this verse? Hmmm… maybe I should bring a bunch of chips I had bought for one of them, if I see him again tomorrow or Wednesday. I don’t know what these people want, though… I wish I could understand them better…
Another important thing to know: most homeless people didn’t become homeless by choice. I know I didn’t, and neither did the other people at the store who’ve become homeless and can’t get anything. I do hope and pray I take better care of myself, though. It’ll soon become blindingly hot in the Valley, and I pray there’s no homeless fatalities this time. I also pray for plenty of water to be given to them, for the deserts’ summers are brutal, with 110° temperatures and little to no rain… until the monsoon starts so that many communities are flooded (but thank God they’ve built drains over the years) — hard to believe Phoenix is getting uninhabitable, ain’t it? This city’s a testament to the stubbornness of humanity… in general. And the many homes and concrete everything is only making it worse, for they don’t want to switch to rubber (rubber make heat bounce off whereas concrete traps it), since they’re too cheap to save the city and even their own lives! I’m not against people moving here from other places, though. At least it’s nice to see them.
I have more passages of Leviticus 19 to get into, but not right now, for it’s getting late. Verses 11-16 are next! If you have a prayer request, you can e-mail me at ron.outland4727@gmail.com! I’ll read each one, write them down, then tape them to my bedroom walls! I’ll see you in the next passage. Later!
Ron And His Stories 