The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
Proverbs 13:23
For parts of my childhood, I spent weekends at my grandfather’s small farm in Western New York working the fields with my father and brother. My father had a regular day job but farmed as a hobby and used it as an opportunity to bond with his sons. We’d spend hours in the fields plowing, sowing seeds, hoeing rows, and picking the crops we grew from my Poppy’s farm.
Farming references in the Bible always resonate with me because of those experiences. I think, for example, of Proverbs 13:23, “The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.”
When I read verses about injustice inflicted upon the poor, it’s easy to imagine a poor farmer who faithfully plows and sows a field to feed a family, but sees the field destroyed before harvest. Natural disasters are always threats - swarms of locusts, a sudden drought. But other unjust acts, acts of man, can also take away the blessings from the earth. A nearby factory could release a chemical that kills an entire field. A creditor could call a loan and acquire the full yield. Acts of injustice often disproportionately affect the poor.
Sticking with the farming theme, Jesus tells us in John 15 that He is the Vine and His Father is the Farmer. God prunes in order for branches to grow, and Christ’s words cleanse us. We draw life from the Vine. God shows what parts are to be cut or left behind in order to encourage growth. Christ speaks of the Vine so His joy may be in us, and our joy may be full.
The denial of God’s joy is what makes injustice incredibly cruel. While the purveyors of injustice should stop, we need not sit idle. Rather, we can act for good and pray that our works bring joy to others. So, prayerfully offer your professional services
pro bono to someone disadvantaged. Donate your time serving those who are underserved. Go ahead and give to a Go-Fund-Me campaign! Do whatever you can, and see the joy that follows.
God bless you!
Charles
