Biblical Stewardship of Gardening and Agricultural Income
Biblical Stewardship of Gardening and Agricultural Income
The biblical concept of stewardship in gardening and agricultural income is rooted in the understanding that the land and its produce belong to God. The biblical account of creation establishes that humans are entrusted with the care of the earth and its resources [2]. This stewardship is not limited to the physical act of farming but encompasses the economic and social aspects of agricultural income.
In biblical times, agriculture was a primary source of livelihood, and the scriptures provide guidance on how to manage the land and its produce. The book of Psalms highlights God's role in providing for the land and its inhabitants, stating that "You care for the land and water it; you greatly enrich it" [3]. The Psalmist also notes that God "causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth" [5].
The biblical concept of stewardship in agriculture involves diligence, patience, and wisdom. Proverbs 27:23-27 emphasizes the importance of tending to one's land and livestock, while James 5:7 encourages patience in waiting for the harvest [1]. The biblical account also warns against the consequences of neglecting one's agricultural responsibilities, as seen in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the parable of the vineyard (Matthew 21:33-41) [11].
The Jewish tradition, as reflected in the Babylonian Talmud, provides further insight into the concept of stewardship in agriculture. The Talmud discusses the responsibilities of sharecroppers and landowners, highlighting the importance of fairness and mutual agreement in agricultural contracts [9, 10, 12]. The Talmud also emphasizes the need for careful management of agricultural resources, including the use of irrigation and the allocation of produce [7].
In the Christian tradition, the concept of stewardship in agriculture is linked to the broader understanding of Christian stewardship. John Calvin's Institutes emphasize the importance of moderation and simplicity in one's use of resources, including agricultural income [6]. The patristic tradition, as represented by Augustine, also highlights the importance of living simply and avoiding excess [8].
The biblical concept of stewardship in gardening and agricultural income is closely tied to the idea of God's blessing and provision. Isaiah 30:23 promises that God will provide rain for the seed and abundant harvests, while Psalm 65:9 notes that God "cares for the land and waters it" [4, 3]. The biblical account also warns against the dangers of wealth and materialism, emphasizing the need for humility and gratitude in one's response to God's provision.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Agriculture or Husbandry — The cultivation of the earth -- Ge 3:23. The occupation of man before the fall -- Ge 2:15. Rendered laborious by the curse on the earth -- Ge 3:17-19. Man doomed to labour in, after the fall -- Ge 3:23. Contributes to the support of all -- Ec 5:9. The providence of God to be acknowledged in the produce of -- Jer 5:24; Ho 2:8. Requires Wisdom. -- Isa 28:26. Diligence. -- Pr 27:23-27; Ec 11:6. Toil. -- 2Ti 2:6. Patience in waiting. -- Jas 5:7. Diligence in, abundantly recompensed -- Pr 12:11; 13:23; 28:19; Heb 6:7. Persons engaged in, called ”
- Genesis “It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. -- Genesis 3:18”
- Psalms “Psalms 65:9 (LEB) — You care for the land and water it; you greatly enrich it. The stream of God is filled with waters. You provide their grain, for so you have established it.”
- Isaiah “He will give the rain for your seed, with which you will sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground will be rich and plentiful. In that day, your livestock will feed in large pastures. -- Isaiah 30:23”
- Psalms “He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth: -- Psalms 104:14”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 65: must indulge as little as possible; on the other hand, 2034 it must be his constant aims not only to curb luxury, but to cut off all show of superfluous abundance, and carefully beware of converting a help into an hinderance. 5. Another rule is, that those in narrow and slender circumstances should learn to bear their wants patiently, that they may not become immoderately desirous of things, the moderate use of which implies no small progress in the school of Christ. For in addition to the many other vices which accompany a longing”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 93b.10: The Gemara suggests: But perhaps all of the mishna is stating the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, and the mishna is incomplete, and this is what it is teaching: With regard to one who sells produce to another that is sometimes purchased for eating and sometimes for planting, and the buyer planted it and it did not sprout, and even if he had sold flaxseeds, which are only occasionally eaten, the seller does not bear financial responsibility for them. But if he sold seeds for garden plants, which are not eaten at all, the seller bears financial respons”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — CHAP. 27.--38. And in that the Church is thus described in the Song of Songs, "A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed, a well of living water; thy plants are an (part 1): 477 fountain sealed," of whom Cyprian bears witness that they renounced the world in word and not in deed, and that yet they were within the Church. For if they both are themselves there, and are themselves the bride of Christ, can she then be as she is described "without spot or wrinkle,"(1) and is the fair dove defiled with suc”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 181a.148:12: The Gemara relates an incident of a certain man who said to his sharecropper: Everyone waters the field three times during the season, and they consume, i.e., receive as payment, one quarter of the crops from the field. Will you water four times and consume as your payment one-third of the produce? Ultimately, rain came when the sharecropper would have needed to water a fourth time, and so he did not need to water the field a fourth time. The question was presented to the Sages: Is the sharecropper still entitled to receive one-third of the produce since ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 74b.12: The Gemara relates an incident of a certain man who said to his sharecropper: Everyone waters the field three times during the season, and they consume, i.e., receive as payment, one quarter of the crops from the field. Will you water four times and consume as your payment one-third of the produce? Ultimately, rain came when the sharecropper would have needed to water a fourth time, and so he did not need to water the field a fourth time. The question was presented to the Sages: Is the sharecropper still entitled to receive one-third of the produce since he wa”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 21:33: Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard--(See on Luk 13:6). and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower--These details are taken, as is the basis of the parable itself, from that beautiful parable of Isa 5:1-7, in order to fix down the application and sustain it by Old Testament authority. and let it out to husbandmen--These are just the ordinary spiritual guides of the people, under whose care and culture the fruits of righteousness are expected to spring up. and went into ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 181b.148:12: The Gemara relates an incident of a certain man who said to his sharecropper: Everyone waters the field three times during the season, and they consume, i.e., receive as payment, one quarter of the crops from the field. Will you water four times and consume as your payment one-third of the produce? Ultimately, rain came when the sharecropper would have needed to water a fourth time, and so he did not need to water the field a fourth time. The question was presented to the Sages: Is the sharecropper still entitled to receive one-third of the produce since ”