http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/2009/07/20/the-law-of-the-harvest/ travel to new places in your spiritual thought life Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:42:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/2009/07/20/the-law-of-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-32519 dswarts Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:42:04 +0000 http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/?p=634#comment-32519 interesting angle. what scripture is it? interesting angle. what scripture is it?

]]> http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/2009/07/20/the-law-of-the-harvest/comment-page-1/#comment-266 jj Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:13:05 +0000 http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/?p=634#comment-266 Very thought provoking. Going on the presumption that scripture initially spoke to the culture at hand, it seems necessary to find the essence of what the "law" was really about. I think generosity is a good view. I also wonder/presume if the non-specifics were intentional---that we are not to dwell on precise measurement. It's easier to follow the spirit of the law rather than the letter of law when there is no means of quantifying your faithfulness. Perhaps "am I doing enough?" should always be on our lips. This is sort of a poor illustration, but here goes: I have friends who I regularly share lunches/dinners with (at the office and socially). The "accounting" of who brought what and how much, or the tally of the dinner tab is really loose. If anything the waitress gets the benefit of everyone throwing in a little extra. If anyone's short we all just throw in a little more. We know it's not that important, that some days we're the one who is short and it probably evens out in the end. This practice establishes a sense of community, sharing and generosity. I also have friends who when we go out tabulate the splitting of the check to the penny. It I ever need to borrow a buck to cover the tip, I know I better remember to pay them back because they will certainly remember. The same persons shy away from sharing any of the office luncheons because the don't want to be obligated to anyone (or vice versa). It's established a whole different kind of relationship, one with very clear boundaries. Translate that concept to my relationship with God. If I fixate on a precise accounting of my generosity to those in need, am I not establishing a kind of relationship where I am building those same kinds of boundaries with God. Certainly I am opening myself up to deserving that God might treat me in the same way. But if I harvest my metaphorical field with a generous spirit, how much more will I reap in the end. How much more will I allow my heart to feel and by led by the hand of God. Very thought provoking. Going on the presumption that scripture initially spoke to the culture at hand, it seems necessary to find the essence of what the “law” was really about. I think generosity is a good view. I also wonder/presume if the non-specifics were intentional—that we are not to dwell on precise measurement. It’s easier to follow the spirit of the law rather than the letter of law when there is no means of quantifying your faithfulness. Perhaps “am I doing enough?” should always be on our lips.
This is sort of a poor illustration, but here goes:
I have friends who I regularly share lunches/dinners with (at the office and socially). The “accounting” of who brought what and how much, or the tally of the dinner tab is really loose. If anything the waitress gets the benefit of everyone throwing in a little extra. If anyone’s short we all just throw in a little more. We know it’s not that important, that some days we’re the one who is short and it probably evens out in the end. This practice establishes a sense of community, sharing and generosity.
I also have friends who when we go out tabulate the splitting of the check to the penny. It I ever need to borrow a buck to cover the tip, I know I better remember to pay them back because they will certainly remember. The same persons shy away from sharing any of the office luncheons because the don’t want to be obligated to anyone (or vice versa). It’s established a whole different kind of relationship, one with very clear boundaries.
Translate that concept to my relationship with God. If I fixate on a precise accounting of my generosity to those in need, am I not establishing a kind of relationship where I am building those same kinds of boundaries with God. Certainly I am opening myself up to deserving that God might treat me in the same way. But if I harvest my metaphorical field with a generous spirit, how much more will I reap in the end. How much more will I allow my heart to feel and by led by the hand of God.

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