Ruth 2 DON'T BE AFRAID OF WORK Ruth, is an excellent example of an Industrious woman who wasn't going to wait for everything to be handed to her on a platter. In chapter two we learn that not only was she a woman of noble character and compassion, but she had initiative. Ruth did not wait for some good fortune to come to her and Naomi. She went to work. She was not afraid to admit her need, or of working hard to supply the need. When you have a need, consider that God may be waiting for you to take the first step to demonstrate just how important your need is. What do you do when you are asked to do a job that you think is not up to your potential? The task before you may be the one God wants you to do for now and maybe permanently. It may be a test of your character that can open up other doors of opportunity. Ruth was willing to listen to Naomi and act on her guidance and wisdom relating to the culture and how best to apply her efforts. It is a wise person who will listen to others instead of acting on the spur of the moment or carelessly. A faithful person will give diligence to provide what is needed to meet his or her own need and be able to give to others. It is not uncommon nor wrong to wait for God's provision even though we already have His promise in the written word that assures us what we need He will give "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
We may not realize at the time when we are about our daily tasks and the vocation to which we have been called that we are building a reputation that we will have to live with. Often the way you work displays the kind of qualities you have inside. Hard work, a loving attitude, kindness, faithfulness and courage are character traits that show up best in the work place – and often best, under adverse circumstances. Consistently living out what you believe establishes your reputation. Ruth showed this in her willingness to glean in the field diligently. Boaz showed this when out of his abundance, he provided for the needy people around. We are often known by how we treat those who are less fortunate than we are. Do we do the minimum or the maximum or somewhere in between? Even though she was bitter, Naomi still recognized God at work and praised God for Boaz’s kindness. In leaving one place and going to another, in release from some bondage or in assurance of victory, in times of despair and grief - we may have to wait for relief for a long time. Maybe it will not come until this life is over.
In life we will all make mistakes. This is an inevitable fact. But after facing our mistakes and dealing with them appropriately, we must trust God for a new beginning and stop looking back with regrets or frustrations over things we can do nothing about. God's storehouse of resources is far greater than your burdens. Stop staring at the wall and waiting for something great to happen. By faith, get up and open the door to a brand- new tomorrow. Sometimes we will question God's dependability when looking at things through natural eyes and make the mistake of trying to bring a quick solution in our own way. Faithfulness in the lives of ordinary people may not bring dramatic answers to our problems but simple quiet solutions to the everyday issues we face.
There are conditions to meet when we are making spiritual choices; when God wants to accomplish His purposes through us. We must commit ourselves to live by faith in the Lord [2:1-3]. To live by faith means we take God at His Word and act upon it. Ruth believed God would provide for her, so she went to work. In the same way the Lord worked for her, God works with us [Mk.16:10]; God works in us [Phil.2:12-13]; God works for us [Rom.8:28]. We must learn to live by the grace of God [Ru.2:4-16]. Grace is favor bestowed on the undeserving. When we do this, God makes the first move to solve the matter on our behalf. Boaz took the initiative when the issue arose with the property and future of Ruth and Naomi. Also, God does not desire to leave us in the dark about a matter but He speaks to us through His word, like Boaz opened the conversation with Ruth about the future. He knew what needed to be done and did it. God also freely gives. We don't have to try and initiate a "I will do this if you will do that" sort of an agreement. Boaz promised to provide for and protect Ruth in the same way God has given promises to us. God wants us to trust Him. Boaz encouraged Ruth and she went away contented that all was going to work out in the right way. God has never let us down and He never will. God satisfies those who trust Him and admit that what He does and gives is right and best. Boaz made sure Ruth was satisfied.
Naomi and Ruth got to Bethlehem too late to plant barley or wheat in the field of Elimelech. The barley harvest had already started and the wheat harvest followed after. How could they get food to live on without stealing? There was prosperity all around among those who had stayed in Bethlehem but they were poor and poverty stricken needing the basic essentials of life to survive. They had to face the fact that they would not have a barley or wheat harvest of their own. When things happen over which we have no control, then we should follow the example of Ruth by taking the initiative of getting what we can get even though it may not be much. She took advantage of the Jewish law that allowed gleaning in the fields after the harvesters had passed through and collected the stalks of grain that had not been bound up into sheaves. Gleaning is what we call today basic subsistence living, like collecting bottles and cans from a ditch. It was hard demeaning work to get a little return for the labor expended but it was provision from God. Immigrants like Ruth were strangers in the land to which they went, and were strangers in the land they left. Ruth was a poor foreigner but was committed to Naomi and was determined to fulfill that commitment she made. She acted on what she said in the only way she knew how. She was faithful in seeking to provide for Naomi as long as she lived. It is expected of us to do what we say in words and sing in our Christian hymns and songs. Ordinary people are those who meet the needs of others while remaining faithful to God.
Separate fields belonged to different people and "by chance" Ruth came to the field of Boaz and asked permission to glean there. "By chance" Boaz came by to see the work going on in the harvest. It seems a simple but unusual happenstance, but it happened. Behind it all God was working "to will and to do of His good pleasure." In grace He was making things happen according to His sovereign will although there was nothing dramatic in the way He was working. We should never overlook or take for granted the blessing of the little things that happen in our lives. God is at work in the way most suited to the situation. Boaz must have been a friend to Naomi and was certainly a relative of Elimelech. He was a man of power and authority in the community and had influence in Bethlehem that seemed to be used in a positive way. Ruth needed a favor and Boaz gave it without her asking for it. God is working behind the scenes in the lives of His ordinary people.
Ruth’s politeness and diligence added greatly to her natural attractiveness. As a result, she received far more than she expected. Boaz not only was faithful in making provision for this poor widow woman, but he gave her permission, protection and the provision of food and water to maintain her strength for laboring in the field gleaning. It is interesting to notice that Boaz served her food himself. He granted her the favor she needed out of the fullness of his provision as a faithful man. He obeyed what the law meant, the spirit of the law, as well as what the law said. He wasn't just meeting the basic requirements of the law. God had been generous to him and now he was generous to the poor. Whether out of a sense of duty, conscience and reputation or as a response to the law, Boaz did what was right by showing kindness to the poor woman. Ruth wondered why he noticed her because she thought she was unnoticed. We are not unnoticed in life even though we may think we are insignificant in the overall scheme of things in our society. But Boaz knew about her already and how she cared for Naomi. As far as Boaz was concerned Ruth earned what she got. God likes to do things for His children and rewards faithfulness by His provision for our real needs.
There will be times in our lives when we are unsure of ourselves and what will happen to us. Uncertainty can seriously stumble a person who hasn't really learned to live and walk by faith. From Ruth chapter two we learn that we must live in hope [Ru.2:17-23]. Despondency not only negatively affects us, but it also can affect others around us. When we live in hope we will labor in hope. When we labor in hope, we will be willing to trust God in hope. Then when these practices are followed in a way similar to Ruth and Naomi, we will truly be living in hope.