Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Glean in the Right Field...

Gleaning is the act of allowing the poor to follow reapers in the field, to pick up grain that has fallen to the ground.  Depending on the generosity of master of the field, the reapers might drop more than they should for the poor that are following.  This can be seen in the story of Ruth and Boaz in the book of Ruth, chapter 2.  This was also an agricultural law of the Hebrews (Lev. 19:9; 23:22, Deut. 24:19-21).

I relate the act of gleaning to us as people when we are seeking guidance on life matters.  Why do we tend to follow those who are just as "poor" in knowledge as we ourselves might be?  There is no benefit to "gleaning" in the field of the poor.  However, when we find someone with more knowledge and/or experience on a matter, we need to glean from their fields.  The book of Titus 2 instructs the "older/seasoned" women to teach the "younger" women (poor in knowledge)" on life matters.

Let us use wisdom seek the counsel and advice of those women of God who are tried and true.  We may not like that they have to say, but experience does not always have to be our teacher.

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