This portion of Deuteronomy ensures that the poor, indigent, fatherless and widows were cared for. Crops of grains, olives, and grapes as well as others were not to be fully harvested, but left for the needy of the society.
The Christian shares in some responsibility for the poor of their society as well. When Paul presented his gospel to the apostles for their endorsement, he said the wholeheartedly agreed with him and in Galatians 2:10 added, “They asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”
On November 1, 1886, President Grover Cleveland issued a Proclamation of a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer. In that proclamation he included this statement: Let us also in the midst of our thanksgiving remember the poor and needy with cheerful gifts and alms so that our service may by deeds of charity be made acceptable in the sight of the Lord.”