A RELEASE. Deuteronomy 15 In God’s design for the life of the children of Israel, there were cycles of sacred time that they were to observe for many reasons. Six days of work were followed by a day of rest called the Sabbath. That day of rest was not only for physical renewal and refreshment of purpose but also for reflecting on how God had been with them. They would remember their deliverance from Egypt. They would likely think about the manna that appeared early each morning six days a week as God’s provision to meet their need for food. The water they drank was a miracle they received because of God’s love for His people. There was also a seventh-year Sabbath when land was allowed to rest.
It is only reasonable for us to set aside a day of remembrance, reflection, review, and recovery of physical, spiritual, and moral strength. The Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, is also a day to remember our Lord Jesus Christ as a gathered-out assembly of believers to remember His death, burial, resurrection, and second coming in the Lord’s Supper. From the fullness of what God has given us, we are responsible for giving a proportion of it back to Him. On that day, we received teachings from the scriptures that reveal more of God Himself and His truth to us and publicly proclaim the truth of the Gospel to others in the same way early believers did.
There is unlimited fullness in the ground beneath our feet, but in God’s plan of things, one year out of six, the land was to remain fallow. Even the land needs to rest and be renewed by the natural plants’ roots growing deeper into the ground beyond where the plow reaches. By opening the paths of moisture and loosening the soil deeper, more nutrients become available to cultivated plants. That, in turn, leads to better harvests as the ground is replenished naturally.
The Lord continued to use Moses to review and reaffirm all the issues that affect daily living so there would be no question about what God expected from His people. One especially impactful instruction was the sabbatical year; every seventh year would be a year of release. There were six years of work followed by one year when those who were poor or indentured servants were helped and set free to return to normal, independent life if they chose. This way, hope and motivation stayed alive in people who, through no fault of their own, were poor. Some became indentured servants and worked for a creditor for six years without pay. But because they knew there would be a release from their debt when the seventh year arrived, and they would be given the means to start fresh, they would do their daily work as best they could.
God has always been compassionate toward the poor and expects the same from His children. Compassion should demonstrate our gratitude for what God has done for us. A right relationship with God and our worship of Him are connected to how we treat others. God cares deeply about the poor, and if we love Him, it is our duty to show love and concern for them.
Poverty is not always caused by carelessness or laziness. Poor health in a family and the circumstances of birth influence a person's situation. Some life situations prevent people from having the means or ability to meet their needs. It is God's intention that those who can help—either through family or God's family—should care for the poor. The biblical practice of working to meet needs is reasonable and acceptable. In the past, farmers left the corners of their fields with standing grain for the poor to gather.
Today, for those who are too ill to work and have no family support, the government has a program that taxes us to meet their needs. Not every part of the world has this, and there are times when we must provide help to the poor. In this country and some others, social welfare programs cover basic life needs. Many countries in the world don’t have this, and we are responsible for helping family members, neighbors, and friends in any way we can.
It is wrong for us to ignore the situation of the poor. The Lord Jesus said, "The poor you have always among you." When the Lord provides for us and our needs, He uses us as a channel to supply the needs of others. We are only free from this responsibility when there are no poor people. No matter a person's situation in life, it is right to treat people with dignity, respect, and worth. God made them, and they are precious to Him. God calls us to help them.
To avoid falling into poverty, a wise person does not borrow money. "The borrower is a servant to the lender." Avoid borrowing unless it is absolutely necessary because it puts an individual and/or a family under bondage until that loan is paid off. In our current world economy, people are being encouraged to borrow money so the lender can profit at the borrower’s expense. One way to reinforce this binding habit of borrowing is to make people dissatisfied with what they have.
Modern media and advertising are designed to foster discontent by appealing to people's covetous nature. The people of God need to remember that we are not immune to these attractions. Our Gracious Father, who gives us "all things" in Christ, can meet our needs. He makes us rich without adding sorrow. However, the things He provides are far more basic than the trivial trinkets that appeal to the materialistic minds of modern men and women.
Hebrew servants could go free in the seventh year - the sabbatical year. When they left servitude, they were given enough provisions to meet their needs until a new start could be made. If they chose to remain a servant of a benevolent master, they had a hole bored in their ear indicating they were servants for the rest of their lives. The Lord’s reward for obedience was that there was no need for perpetual poverty for the poor in Israel. The seventh-year Sabbath gave a person the opportunity to be free and start over or remain in the service of a master. By this means, wealth was equalized, or a person could be permanently indentured if he so chose.
Oppression of employees should be forbidden for every Christian employer. Fair wages and reasonable working conditions will motivate employees to give a fair day’s work for a fair wage. Don’t let poverty impose obligations that cannot be met. Justice and righteousness should be combined with compassion. We have received mercy from God and should show it to others. When we are called to meet the needs of the poor, it is better if, in our provision for them, we include some form of equity that allows them to begin to supply their own needs. Sometimes, for poor people with health and strength, giving them a net and some "fish" is better than just giving lots of fish. This way, they can "fish" for themselves and maybe start to make their own way by selling fish to others.
In the Hebrew economy, the firstborn animal belonged to God. It served as a household's testimony of who they were and what they could provide using what came from God. God supplied their needs. They were not to profit from the firstborn of their livestock because it was from God and for God. God was the source of all they had, and the blessings they should never take for granted. We often forget that "every good gift" comes from God. Setting aside the firstborn was a reminder of who gave us what we have and who sustains our lives each day. That animal was not to be put to work but kept so there would be no blemish when the time came to give it to God as a thank-offering.
A number of very practical and workable instructions were given to the children of Israel that can teach us how to conduct our lives most effectively. A release from debt is a great freedom. If you are a creditor or an employer and have been in debt yourself once, you will understand the importance of being fair to employees and never mistreating them. They deserve respect and fair treatment because they will be free to go their own way someday. Your reputation will soon be known by others with whom you do business. If you are a debtor, you owe your employer honesty and a good day's work every day. How you apply yourself to your work will determine your future and what you will receive for your labor beyond the bare minimum. "What you sow, you reap."
Another lesson is to never try to shortchange God. We can never fully repay God for all His blessings, so when He reveals what He desires from us, it is our privilege and a blessing to give willingly and wholeheartedly. Everything we claim for ourselves originates from God as the ultimate source. Remember this principle: the more you give, the more you receive. We will never be able to outgive God. His abundance is available to those He trusts to give to others what He desires through us joyfully. When He receives from us what reflects the attitude of our hearts toward Him, He releases to us what demonstrates His love and grace.
A difficult lesson to learn is to be content with what we have. "Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content" is a fundamental principle of living. The overextension of credit to a dissatisfied person places the borrower in bondage, from which many never escape in their lifetime. Some people are paying off debts for their entire lives because they started out expecting to have the right to those things now, even though they have not yet earned them.
Many young people carry a sense of "entitlement" that has been shaped by overly indulgent parents. They truly believe they deserve now what hardworking parents spent a lifetime earning. A dissatisfied generation bodes badly for the future - even for those of faith. Our children are not immune to this widespread mindset. It is the responsibility of mature believers to guide young people in everyday life, just as Moses taught the Israelites generations ago. They need our practical teaching, experience, and spiritual guidance to live effective lives for God.