# 277 Today’s Living Word comes from Mark 2:23,24, “Now it happened that He went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"
Make no mistake about it...the disciples were hungry. This was no afternoon snack of granola. There was a merciful provision in Mosaic law that allowed for the hungry to pick grain from a farmers field. This privilege was not to be abused, it was just a stop-gap measure for relief of hunger. Deuteronomy 23:25 reads:
"When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain.”
This was the equivalent of our modern day food pantries and churches would do well to make similar provisions for the poor today. The poor need a place where they can meet their immediate need to satisfy their hunger. Furthermore, giving to the poor is one of the three spiritual disciplines mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “WHEN (not if) you give to the needy.” (Mt 6:2)
At the same time we must gently warn the poor....don't bring your sickle, (don’t abuse the system.) Take just what you need and if you able bodied, continue to earnestly seek legitimate employment.
And if you are an able-bodied follower of Jesus Christ, you ought to be connected and involved with a local congregation who will not only provide for your emergency needs, but will seek to provide opportunities for you to “work for your food.” As Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. “
I’m Duane Matz and that’s today’s Living Word.
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