Balance
Read This Week: Leviticus 25
If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. – Leviticus 25:35-36 NIV
Leviticus 25 is one of the most remarkable chapters in the Bible, offering both a theological vision and a practical roadmap for pursuing justice, sustainability, and freedom as believers. At its heart are two key things: the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee. These principles of rest and release reveal that God’s concern for His people extends beyond worship practices. It encompasses economics, land use, labor, and social equity.
The Sabbath Year required the land to rest every seventh year. Farmers were to stop planting, and whatever grew naturally was open for all, including the poor and even wild animals. This principle reveals God’s desire for creation itself to experience renewal, while also reminding the people that their provision ultimately came from Him, not from endless work. In our context, this highlights the importance of sustainability and the value of allowing both people and processes to rest, rather than exhausting them.
Even more radical was the Year of Jubilee, celebrated every fiftieth year. During Jubilee, debts were forgiven, slaves were released, and land was returned to its original family owners. This was not just an economic reset; it was a declaration that no one truly owned the land; God did. Human beings were stewards, not absolute masters. Jubilee protected families from generational poverty, curbed the power of the wealthy, and ensured that opportunity could be renewed for all. This idea challenges us to consider how we manage wealth, address inequality, and promote justice in our societies. Another key theme is the dignity of people in hardship. The passage also calls for compassion for those who become poor, urging fellow Israelites to treat them not as enslaved people but as brothers and sisters.
Another critical point here is that economic transactions were never to be exploitative, and redemption was always possible. This ethic is timeless, pointing to the value of mercy, the priority of community over profit, and the call to treat others with fairness and respect in business, lending, and daily life.
Leviticus 25 asks us to rethink how we use resources, how we balance work and rest, and how we view wealth and ownership. It envisions a society built not on endless accumulation, but on trust in God, care for others, and stewardship of creation. In a world marked by economic disparity, environmental stress, and restless striving, the principles of Sabbath and Jubilee remain profoundly practical: we are called to build communities that reflect justice, compassion, and renewal.
We Have a Good, Good Father
We have a good, good Father who loves His children. In our Father’s house, there is a place for each of us. We are children of God—yes, we are!
Father God, thank You for being a great Father who prepares, provides, and calls us to rest, hope, and know that we are Yours.
In Leviticus 25:1, it says:
“The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I am giving you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord.’”
God gave Israel instructions about the land, the Sabbath, the Jubilee, and how to treat one another. All of it was preparation for living free in the Promised Land. He was saying: I have plans for you. I will provide for you. I will lead you. But I need you to listen and trust Me.
From the beginning, God laid out the Sabbath and the Jubilee as rhythms of rest, trust, being kind, and remembrance—reminders that the land is His. Everything belongs to Him.
In Leviticus 25:55, He says:
“For the Israelites belong to Me as servants. They are My servants whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
He rescued them so they could live as His children and servants—free, set apart, and loved. And He’s rescued us too. He’s looking for hearts that will listen and walk with Him step by step.
I don’t serve Father God out of fear. I serve Him because I Love Him I’m His family. My identity is His daughter. I love being both His servant and His child. And you can too.
Just as Israel had a part to play in living like they belonged to God, we also carry a greater responsibility. God is still teaching us, helping us, and inviting us to grow in His will and His ways
“The Jubilee in Leviticus 25 pointed forward to Jesus. In Luke 4:18–19, Jesus declared that He had come to bring liberty, healing, and restoration—the very heart of Jubilee. He is our true Redeemer who forgives, frees, restores, and resets, gives us a new start in our lives.”
Thank you Jesus ✨
We must remember: Father God owns everything. He is the Commander-in-Chief, and it’s vital that we listen, respond, and walk with Him step by step. Our time belongs to Him. Our resources belong to Him. Let’s be good stewards of what Jesus Christ has entrusted to us.
And here’s the hope: You are never too far gone for a reset. To start fresh! Today is a new day.
Father God wasn’t just dealing with land—He was dealing with hearts. Doing life on our own will never be enough. We belong to our Father. He says, “You’re Mine. Trust Me. Be content right where you’re at.” Be thankful
Father God,
thank You that You are a good, good Father who has called me Your child. Who loves me!
Open my heart to see that everything I have belongs to You, and help me to trust You with my life. Jesus, thank You for being my true Jubilee—the One who forgives, restores, and sets me free. Please Holy Spirit, reveal to me the places where I need to rest, release, and start fresh. Touch my heart with Your truth, and let me walk step by step with You, knowing I belong to You. You own everything and I get to be apart of doing life with You!
In Jesus’ name, amen. ✨️
Have you ever stopped and really thought about this — God owns it all? He owns everything. Everything we have comes from the Lord. He’s the Owner; it all belongs to Him. Whatever God blesses us with, we’re simply managers — stewards of His blessings and His property.
We’re only here for a short time, and during that time, God calls us to take care of what He’s given, to use it the way He directs, and to let it flow — from God to us, and through us to others. When I think about how God has blessed me, my heart wants to give back. The way I give back to Him is by giving to others as He leads me. I’m learning to be that person — a lover, a server, a helper. And I’ve realized that’s not just a better way to live — it’s a wiser way. Because everything we have here eventually fades away, but the love, the kindness, and the goodness we’ve shared — those are everlasting.
1. God Owns It All
Everything we have belongs to Him. Gratitude is how we acknowledge His ownership and provision.
2. We Are Called to Stewardship
God entrusts blessings to us so we can manage them faithfully and use them for His purpose.
3. True Treasure Is Everlasting
The things of this world fade, but what we do for God and others becomes eternal treasure that never passes away.
PODCAST
This Week in the Life: Leviticus 25
For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and then the second song.
1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251005-worship1.wav
2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251005-message.wav
3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251005-worship2.wav
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