^{Lev 19:9} “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.

Let me share the testimony of a elder in my church. In the past, he would mow his lawn on Sunday afternoons. He never thought of it as “work”. As he aged, it has become more and more taxing on his body for this weekly routine. What used to be a simple routine had slowly become a tiring job.

After hearing about the importance of keeping Sabbath, he decided to hire a neighbor to mow his lawn. Now, in this new arrangement, his neighbor appreciates the extra income. The elder has a more restful Sabbath and spends more time with his wife. His wife does not have to worry about him having a heart attack mowing the lawn. Friendship develop between the elder and his landscaping neighbor, and a door for the gospel is opened. Everybody win.

Modern management teaches maximizing profits. Sabbath teaches us to take a step back and remember that maximizing may not be optimizing. In our business life and our private life, leave some for others. Let other people help you even if you don’t necessarily need the help. Be careful that being “lean” does not become being “mean”.