Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:37-40
Harvest and Judgement are two words that have some similarity in meaning or effect. Harvest comes from previous actions (of sowing) just as judgement comes from our previous actions or inactions. In “The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat* read today Jesus used harvest time to describe the last day when He will gather all His faithful people for their reward and the wicket for their punishment. To some He will call “blessed by My Father” for their action of caring for the needy (Matthew 25:37-40) and to others He will call “accursed” for their inaction – not caring for the needy.
I congratulate all of us today for this year’s Gleaner harvest, an opportunity given by the church for all of us to demonstrate our faith in Christ through our giving towards the cause of the needy amongst us and beyond. God have selected us for His special blessings and His expectation is for us to reach out to others with these blessings. In Deuteronomy 24:19-21 God directed the farmers in Israel “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow.” Boaz showed uncommon kindness to Ruth by instructing the harvesters “Let her (Ruth) glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” Ruth 2:15-16.
The Final Harvest shall come on a day we do not expect (1 Thessalonians 5:2) and it is a fearful day (Zephaniah 1:2) especially for those that are not sowing now. Jesus says in John 9:4 “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.” Let us show that uncommon kindness today like Boaz that we may be called “blessed of My Father” on the Final Harvest.
God bless you