Ruth goes out to gather grain for her and Naomi. They are quite poor, so she gets permission to glean (pick up the grain missed / dropped by the reapers). One of the fields she goes through is owned by a relative of Naomi’s late husband – Boaz – and he takes notice of her.
“Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field… but keep close to my young women. And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.’ Then she fell on her face, bowing 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?’ But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!’ Then she said, ‘I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.’ ” (v8-13 abr)
Ruth is not only poor, she is also a sojourner (stranger from another land), so she enacts the “law of gleaning”: “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. …You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev 19:9-10 abr)
While Ruth is gleaning in Boaz’s field, he notices her, and finds out all she has done for Naomi. Boaz basically gives Ruth a full share with his servants – food, water, refreshments, the pick of the crop (not just gleanings), plus some bonus grain which she didn’t even collect herself. Why would he be so generous to a foreigner? Because he was giving her a “full reward [from] the Lord, the God of Israel”, repaying her for what she has done. God blesses Ruth and Naomi through Boaz, because of Ruth’s selfless actions and obedience.
Yesterday we looked at Ruth’s selfless act of leaving everything she knew, to care for her mother-in-law in a foreign land. This was a huge self-sacrifice. Yet, it has already begun reaping rewards, having caught the attention of God and Boaz.
I again encourage us to selflessly obey God’s leading in our lives – not because we will receive a long-term reward (eternal life), or because we may receive blessings here on earth, but because we love God and want to serve Him. Just as Ruth wanted to serve Naomi out of love for her, we should serve God out of love for Him. Any blessings we receive as a result are a fringe benefit. Ruth didn’t have any idea that her humble gleaning would be met with a generous blessing, she was simply serving as best she could. Just as we shouldn’t give a gift hoping to receive one in return, we shouldn’t serve God and expect anything in return, for we are undeserving of His blessing.
When God does bless us, let’s give the glory to Him, for it is due Him. I would caution us against gaining a sense of entitlement, a type of pride that is very destructive. Let’s not think we earned or deserved a blessing from God, no matter how well or how long we served Him. We are/were sinners after all, and the wages of sin is death (ie. sin earns us death) – anything we receive that is better than death is an undeserved blessing we did not earn.
Father God, our Sovereign Lord and Protector, great and mighty is Your name. Thank you for your generous gifts and blessing upon us. We are a broken people, prone to sin, and unworthy of such benevolence. Yet, you richly bless us regardless of what we deserve. Thank you for Your continued promptings to follow You, for we need all the reminders we can get. Thank you again for loving us, with Your steadfast love that exceeds all expectations. All honor, praise and glory be to You our Lord, for You are generous beyond compare. In the name of Jesus who conquered sin and freed us from its captivity, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training