Sabbath and Jubilee years

I'm a little late getting this week's discussion going, but there is interesting stuff to discuss...

This Sunday, Conrad Hopkins helped us look at Leviticus 25 and the command God gave to the Israelites to take every 7th year off from working their land, and in every 50th year to return all land to its initial owner. In setting up this kind of rhythm (which, as far as we know, was never actually observed by the Israelites), it seems that God was asking them to hold loosely to their possessions and to their work, and so to to trust more fully in His provision. This rhythm would also help combat the problem of some ending up with too much while others had too little.

What are the implications for us as followers of Jesus today? How can we incorporate Sabbath rhythms into our life in ways that help us see all we have, including our jobs and possessions, as gifts from God and not things to hoard? What are our responsibilities for being concerned with those who have less than us? When we're the ones in need, do we have the courage to admit our need and lean on our Christian communities to help sustain us?

Big questions, particularly for us as we live in a pretty affluent area of a very affluent country, but with great needs all around us.