Topic: HUMILITY AND INDUSTRY
Text: Ruth 2:1-17
2:1 There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
2:2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
2:3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
2:4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”
2:5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
2:6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
2:7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”
2:8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.
2:9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”
2:10 So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
2:11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.
2:12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
2:13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken [a]kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”
2:14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.
2:15 And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.
2:16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
2:17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
STUDY:
Our text presents two persons of different backgrounds and class: Boaz, a high and wealthy man and Ruth, a lowly and poor widow. Though different, these 2 persons displayed lifestyles of great virtues. The first virtue is humility. Ruth cheerfully accepted her situation and lived within her circumstances. On his part, Boaz did not think of himself toohighly to associate with the lowly in society. The second virtue was industry. Both of them engaged in honest employment.
Ruth, though unfamiliar with her new environment, stepped out for opportunities, loving pain more than the bread of idleness. Boaz was fully involved in business-supervising and encouraging his workers. The third virtue was faith in God. Though she did not know which way to go or who to meet, Ruth trusted divine providence to raise hera helper, an act of faith that paid off for her.
The fourth virtue was Boaz allowing GOD to make him a source of help -he willingly, without any negative motives, used his God-given wealth to bless the poor and needy.
From the above, we learn that looking out for the wellbeing of others, and adding humility to our industry, are rewarding godly virtues. We also learn that we do not need to be shy of honest employment because labour is not a reproach. Finally, we learn that we are blessed to be a blessing.
Prayer:
Lord, make me a person of faith, humility and industry so I can be an instrument of blessing to those around me and to my generation. Amen.
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