Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
Have you ever driven in a poor part of town and seen all of those title loan and financing places everywhere.
They are really nothing more than legalized loan sharks.
They pop up in the poor parts of town because that is where people are the most desperate.
This is not a judgment on them for going to those places, but they usually have bad credit and have borrowed money before from the traditional places like banks.
They often have maxed out their credit cards and can’t borrow money from these places anymore.
Their last resort is to turn to these extremely high interest rate loan places to try to pay for things.
These places will allow you to get an advance on your paycheck and borrow at incredibly high interest rates.
But what does God think about this.
I will tell you that I personally despise these places and feel that they are taking advantage of the poor.
They aren’t helping them get their finances in order and budget their money to get out of debt.
They certainly are not like the credit consolidation organizations that will help negotiate a lower monthly payment so that you can actually get out of debt.
Well, did you know that God actually has a lot to say about money in the Bible.
He also has a lot to say about borrowing money and becoming a slave to the lender.
He even gives us instructions on how we need to treat the poor and how we can help.
Tonight that is what we will take a look at.
We are going to see that God cares for the poor.
1. God Cares for the Land (vv.
1-7, 23-24)
A. God Owns the Land (v.1-2)
Leviticus 25:1–2 (ESV)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying,
2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord.
Leviticus 25:23 (ESV)
23 “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine.
For you are strangers and sojourners with me.
Application:
How does viewing all the land and our possessions as belonging to the Lord change the way we use them?
Would viewing our possessions as the Lord’s lead us to greater generosity?
More humility?
B. God Regulates the Land
Because God owns the land, God gets to say what we should do with the land.
The regulations that God put on the land were for the preservation of the land and for the provision of the poor.
Pre-modern Agricultural Practices:
No Fertilizers or Pesticides
Needed Crop Rotation
Needed a Time to Rest
Spiritual Ramifications:
An act of faith and dependence on God
A time to create balance
God’s rules on redemption of property (vv.23-34)
Year of Jubilee:
Prevented the ability to have massive land holdings by a select few
Land was power in the ancient world
Provided a release from debt and a chance to start over (even if it was just for a season = sabbath + Jubilee)
C. God Blesses the Land
If the people would keep God’s commandments, God would keep them in the land and bless the land
Application:
God doesn’t work by the world’s economic rules.
God has called us as NT Christians to be generous and giving, both in our giving to the church and our giving to the poor.
When we are obedient, God blesses us and allows us to be secure.
When we disobey, God allows a curse upon our possessions (Mal.
2.2
2. God Cares for the Poor (vv.
8-22, 35-55)
If you are poor or have very little, know that you are very esteemed in the kingdom of God.
God cares for the poor.
Jesus was poor when He took on human flesh.
Gleaning laws were to provide for the needs of the poor.
There were no social welfare programs.
The two ways the poor were to be cared for was through gleaning and through the generosity of the people.
Notice that the gleaning laws still required the poor to go out and gather.
Ruth was a perfect illustration of someone who benefited from these laws.
Application:
If God cares for the poor, shouldn’t we?
How can we be generous and not allow people to take advantage of our generosity at the same time.
Keep in mind that no matter what, when you lend to the poor, you lend to the Lord; and God will not default.
Conclusion:
Leviticus may seem like an outdated book that has very little value to us, but we can clearly see that it still has much to say to us.
We need to listen and pay attention to what the Lord would have us do.
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