Year in the Bible Daily Reading:
Leviticus 24-25; Psalm 81; Hebrews 9 Listen to Today's Reading
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Leviticus 25:8-17
“‘Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields. “‘In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property. “‘If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other. You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops. Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 25:8-17 (NIV)
In theory, everyone getting their stuff back every 50 years sounds good. Meanwhile, my brain is spinning just trying to imagine the paperwork!
Meanwhile, verse 17 feels more “easier”: “Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.”
That one seems pretty straightforward - don’t cheat people. But more than not cheating, don’t take advantage of someone.
What’s the difference between taking advantage of and cheating someone?
You find a wallet on the ground and you turn it into the police. Even though there’s over $1000 inside. That seems the definition of not cheating someone.
You’re hosting a garage sale and you price something you know is worth $15 for $20. It’s not your fault the person buying doesn’t know the true price. Is that taking advantage of someone? Or just good sales?
What about when you’re at a garage sale and see an original art work priced at $50. You happen to know it’s a long lost masterpiece valued at over $50,000. What do you do? I’ve seen this in ethical debate classes - is it seller beware? As in, it’s not your fault the seller didn’t know the “real” price. After all, they put a price on it and you paid their $50. OR is this a time when you sell it and split the proceeds? OR do you tell the person and let them reap the full price?
I know in theory what I should do in each case and what I hope I’d do in each case. BUT I am human and it’s not always so easy.
Maybe it’ll help to remember: Do not take advantage of people - fear your God.
Questions for Reflection:
- What’s the harm in a “little white lie”?
- Have I ever felt taken advantage of?
- Have I ever taken advantage of someone (intentionally or unintentionally?)
Prayer:
Lord, help me be kind to all people; to do what is right even in the heat of a difficult moment. Help me share and show the love of Jesus to everyone I meet.
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