How to Apply the Biblical Principle of Gleaning and Margin to Your Modern Finances
The concepts of gleaning and creating margin are themes that are periodically commanded and mentioned within the Old Testament and for good reason. But what does this mean for us Christians living according to the New Covenant through Christ?
As believers in Christ, we are not bound to the law in the Old Testament (Romans 7:6, Galatians 5:18) since Christ fulfilled the Law on our behalf (Romans 5:19). However, the law is holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12), and the psalmist in Psalm 19 writes that the law is "sweeter than honey and more desired than fine gold."
With that, I want to look back at the Law in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. We may not be bound by this law, but it is profitable for us to know and meditate on.
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 for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.
This is one of many references to gleaning and margin in the Old Testament. When thinking about this concept, there are really two parts and two parties participating on opposite sides of the equation. The farmers and workers in the fields are commanded to leave margin on the edge of the fields - not to harvest those crops. The flip side of that is gleaning. The poor, sojourner, foreigner, widow and orphan were allowed to glean from the margin that was left by the workers.
Adding Margin to Our Budgets
The farmers in Israel could have harvested 100% of their fields and used the crops for themselves or sold them for additional profit. Instead, God instructed them to be generous with those who were at the margins of society. They left some of the harvest so that those in need could glean (gather) it for themselves. Let's explore how this can be holy, righteous, and good in our modern time.
Like the Israelites, we should proactively aim to live beneath our means. You may be familiar with a concept by Dave Ramsey that recommends budgeting every dollar. In fact, he has an online budget tool named just that (EveryDollar). However, there may be some wisdom to not budgeting every dollar.
When we look at the scriptures, I believe we can find three reasons for building in a "buffer" or margin in our budgeting, resources, and businesses.
Generosity Towards the Marginalized
First, the scriptures clearly say that gleaning was for the benefit of those who are marginalized (foreigner, widow, orphan, sojourner, and poor). Those of us who are blessed with enough should set aside a portion of our income to generously help those we come across who are in need.
This biblical principle stood out in stark contrast to other ancient near eastern nations at the time. Israel was set apart by their God and they were generous when people were expected not to be. In the book of Ruth, we see that Ruth and her mother-in-law aptly fit ALL the descriptions of the marginalized. However, when they came into Israel as foreigners they were shown loving kindness. In chapter 2 verse 10, Ruth is amazed by Boaz's generosity "since she is a foreigner."
Other cultures’ expectation was not to be generous to foreigners. God shifts this through the people of Israel. Ruth’s status and dignity did not change as a "gleaner." What an amazing picture of God we can see through this practice. Just as gleaners are pulled into society with dignity from the margins, we are pulled into God's family, given a seat at the table, and offered an inheritance in Christ that we do not deserve.
A Chance to Remember
After God mentions that this is for the benefit of the marginalized, he reminds them "I am the LORD your God" (in Leviticus) and "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt;" (in Deuteronomy). Through the practice of creating margin, we are to remember who God is and what He has done.
A place to start in our remembrance of God through this process is to know that God owns it all. There isn't 100% of something that is ours to harvest in the first place. There isn't even 1% that is ours. We are stewards of what God has given us. "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof" (Psalm 24:1).
Secondly, God reminds his people of what he has done to bring them out of Egypt. This speaks to God's providence—that he keeps his covenants and provides for his people. The practice of adding margin to your life and resources is a physical way to look back at the things that God has done for his people. When you look in the field and see that it isn't fully harvested, or someone asks you why you don't spend more of your money to buy "stuff," you can immediately think back to who the LORD is personally in your life.
The Practice of Rest
The two above reasons are specifically listed in the Law when talking about gleaning, so I would like to add more weight to those. However, through other areas in scripture, I think we can find the benefits and importance of margin (even if not specific to gleaning) ever present in the realm of Sabbath, or rest.
In the Law (Exodus 23 & Leviticus 25), farmers were told to let their land rest (unplowed and unused) every seventh year. This is good for the land itself and still a practice that is used, at least partially, now. This rest and margin of your resources -- time, income, assets, business, work -- is good for growth and the flourishing of all people.
If you are training for a marathon, your training plan won’t push your body every single day. It would have at least a day of rest to allow your body time to recoup and grow stronger. In the same way, God tells us to rest.
How to Practice Gleaning and Margin
With this understanding of margin and gleaning: What are some ways that we can practically see this work out in our lives?
Margin in Budgeting
As already mentioned, leave room in your budget. Assume that you make less than what is actually deposited into your bank account. When someone you know has a need, you can then extend generosity from your excess. If you get paid every other week as opposed to twice a month, you have an easy way to start this process. There are two months that you will receive three paychecks instead of two; see if you can forget about that extra paycheck.
Margin for Remembrance
To use margin as a remembrance of the Lord, consider a time where God had abundantly blessed you in a way that only he could provide. What is something that reminds you of this time or act of providence? Was there a week that you didn’t have enough money to pay for gas?
Try to live a week each year without using your car. Were you the recipient of a timely financial gift? Give that amount during that same week each year. Again, these actions serve as a remembrance of the Lord’s goodness and not to achieve some financial goal.
Margin in Assets
Buy less home than you can afford. For many people, your home is going to be one of your larger assets. Buying less than what you can afford will increase your income margin and will be a way for you to free up assets for your margin. You can be generous with your home as an asset, opening it up to those who are marginalized or for generous use by the church or missionaries.
Also, be intentional with your spending. For example, suppose you are deciding between two home renovation projects: a master bathroom update or outdoor patio and furniture. The outdoor area is more conducive to generosity because it is inviting to guests and represents a natural extension of hospitality.
Margin in Business
Chick-Fil-A is a great example of stewardship in action and provides margin through the business (Not opening on Sunday - allowing time for employees to rest and worship). Farms were large businesses within scripture. There would typically be several workers that would harvest the fields for the landowner or business owner. Every person involved in the business would know and be involved in the practice of gleaning.
A helpful reference as I wrote this post was a research paper by Bruce D. Baker called Gleaning as a Transformational Business Model for Solidarity with the Poor and Marginalized. I would encourage you to read through it and see how margin and gleaning are beneficial for sustainable profits, experiential links with the poor, enhancing human dignity, and more. It is a great resource to help steward the business God has given you.
Our Purpose in Leaving Margin
God owns all that we have. Our stewardship of those resources should include leaving margin for the marginalized, for our remembrance of who God is, and for our rest and reliance on His providence.
We will not be able to practice this perfectly, of course, which is why we can rejoice in the fact that Christ has fulfilled the Law in its entirety and that we are no longer bound by the Law. When we fall short in this act of generosity, we can boast that His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). No longer being slaves to the law, we are freed up to find joy in caring for the marginalized and remembering the Lord through adding margin in our life.
However, while not bound by the law, and knowing we won’t achieve perfection, God’s word presents a picture of margin and gleaning for human flourishing and His glory that we get to participate joyfully in.
