Feb 5, 2017
Because of Ruth’s desire to find solutions for her problems rather than excuses, she goes to work gathering grain in a field that, in God’s sovereignty, belonged to Boaz. On her first day, her work was so exemplary Boaz invited her to continue as part of his team. At lunch time, Boaz gave her bread, wine and roasted grain to eat. At the day’s end, Ruth beat out the barley Boaz allowed her to keep. She put it in a sack and brought home to Naomi 40 pounds of grain and the leftovers from the lunch. Godly women put the needs of others ahead of themselves (Prov. 31:17-20; 1 Pet. 3:3). Throughout history, God expected adult children or relatives to be the primarily care for elderly family members. Neither the nation nor the church was expected to be a welfare agency but rather to come alongside only the truly destitute (2 Thess. 3:10). If no family was alive, the nation or church could help care for widows who had shown a life of godliness (1 Tim. 5:3-16). Ruth had the character of a godly woman by seeking to help her mother-in-law. The heart of humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less (Phil. 2:3)!