Ruth and Boaz
Devotions on Ruth 2:1-23
Monday, Ruth and Boaz
“Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man … whose name was Boaz” (Ruth 2:1).
The writer of Ruth introduces Boaz by sharing two facts with the reader. Boaz is “family” to Naomi and he is rich. He has the means to help, and a reason. The question is, “Will he help”?
Statistically, the wealthy share a smaller percentage of their riches, with those in need, than those people with smaller incomes. Money is addictive. When you have more, you need more and you have less to share. Money also seems to act as an insulation—separating the wealthy from other people and blinding them to the needs of others.
Most of us are members of the ninety-nine percent and it is tempting for us to cast judgment upon the stingy one percent. We are, however, members of the ninety-seven percent. If we have an income greater than a paperboy (newspaper sales representative) we are richer than ninety-seven percent of the world’s population. We have the means to give and we have a reason—we are all God’s family.
Lord, help us to share with others the abundant blessings that you pour into our lives.
Tuesday, Ruth and Boaz
“She has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment” (Ruth 2:7).
Those of us who are rich use two excuses to keep us from helping those who are poor and needy. The first is based on the quasi Biblical teaching that God has blessed the rich and cursed the poor. We reason that if God is against the poor we shouldn’t go against God’s decision. The second excuse is that poor people are lazy. If they would only work hard (like we do) they would be able to pull themselves up and at least achieve a middle class lifestyle.
The writer of Ruth destroys such arguments. Ruth is not lazy. The field workers inform Boaz that she has gleaned all day without a break. Ruth, like a majority of those in need, is a hard worker. Still, the reason that Boaz moves to help Ruth does not appear to be to reward her labor, but rather to respond to her need.
Based on the teaching of Jesus, the early Christians sought to form a community where people shared and no one was in need (Acts 2:44-45). They understood economic equality to be a mark of God’s kingdom. As followers of Jesus who seek to experience God’s kingdom on earth, we continue the practice of the early Christians and share our wealth so that no one is in need.
Forgive us when we make excuses so that we can hoard our blessings, Lord. Release our grasp on “things” and empower us to freely give. Amen.
Wednesday, Ruth and Boaz
“Do not glean in another field” (Ruth 2:8).
Jill was a regular worship attender. Through the years she had heard of the various ministries in which her congregation was involved—food pantry, Habitat for Humanity, a shelter for abused women, a project for clean water in Africa and several more. She had prayed for them during the Prayers of the Church and even contributed a few dollars to them. Things changed for Jill, when the congregation began a MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) ministry. Volunteers were needed to care for the children while their mothers conducted their meeting. Jill loved children and decided to get involved—it changed her life. The needs of others suddenly became real to Jill. She realized that she could use her talents and abilities to meet those needs.
Boaz instructed Ruth to glean only in his field. He did this partly to protect Ruth from harm. Poor women gleaning in isolated fields were vulnerable to attack. Boaz also realized that he could help another person. He owned Ruth’s need and decided that he could provide for Ruth’s needs from his abundant resources.
It is easy to stay a spectator of ministries—to be aware of helping opportunities, but never to become involved. As followers of Jesus, we are always issued the invitation to enter the playing field and to use our talents and abilities in the service of others.
Lord, show us where you want to use us and enable us to be obedient and responsive to your leading. Amen.
Thursday, Ruth and Boaz
“Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me when I am a foreigner” (Ruth 2:10)?
There were many artificial barriers to Boaz responding the Ruth’s need. Ruth was not an Israelite. She was a Moabite foreigner. The Moabites were enemies of the Israelites. There were also the religious and social laws to keep separate, from those who were different, and to remain clean. Boaz chose to overcome those barriers.
Humankind has always used our differences as excuses not to respond to the needs of others. This is not just a characteristic limited to the Israelites. American settlers, whose families had been in the land for less than one hundred years, rejected the Irish and the Italians who immigrated in the 1800’s. Whites rejected the Blacks who migrated to the north from the south in the 50’s and 60’s. Latinos are being shunned, in the United States, today.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to share God’s love and grace with others through our words and actions. In order for us to be obedient to God’s guidance, it is necessary for us to stop focusing on our differences and discover our similarities. Our likenesses far outnumber our differences and we are united by the truth that we are all God’s children.
Open our eyes, Lord, so that we can see other people as you see them. Amen.
Friday, Ruth and Boaz
“But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law … has been fully told me” (Ruth 2:11).
Twelve year old Lamar was diagnosed with cancer. In order to live, he needed to undergo both radiation and chemotherapy. These cures caused Lamar to lose his hair. Lamar’s friend, Diego, decided to show his support for Lamar by shaving his head. Diego’s action did not go unnoticed. Lamar’s classmates decided that they would all shave their heads to show their support for Lamar. The medical bills from Lamar’s treatments were not fully covered by their insurance and were overwhelming the family’s financial resources. A neighbor learned of the family’s need and offered to fix their car, which was in need of repair. His actions inspired the community to gather funds for Lamar’s family through personal donations and fund raisers. Generosity sparks generosity.
Ruth’s care of Naomi kindled Boaz’s generous offer for her to glean in his fields. In a world where selfishness is so often evident, our generosity and service, as followers of Jesus, may inspire the generosity of others. Imagine the possibility of a world filled with generous acts of kindness.
As we follow the example of Jesus, Lord, may we be examples of selfless living for others. Amen.
Saturday, Ruth and Boaz
“’Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead’” (Ruth 2:20).
Paul, in his closing words in the Book of Acts, shares a teaching of Jesus. He writes, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The saying is true. Audrey, who was a Sunday school teacher for over twenty years, knew that she had been richly blessed by sharing her love and faith with the children in her congregation. After a hard day working on a Habitat for Humanity build, the workers felt tired but invigorated knowing that they had helped to make a difference in the life of a family.
Boaz didn’t help Ruth because he thought he’d be blessed by doing so. Rather, Boaz helped Ruth because he saw a person in need. It was later, as he was helping Ruth and Naomi, that Boaz was blessed by his relationship with the remarkable woman and an emptiness in his prosperous life was filled.
As followers of Jesus, we are doubly blessed. We are blessed to be a blessing and when we share our blessings with others, we are blessed in return. This is one facet of living the abundant life that is ours because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Lord, we pray the words of an old hymn, “Make [us] a blessing, Make [us] a blessing, Out of [our lives] out of [our lives] May Jesus shine; Make us a blessing, O savior, [we] pray, We pray Thee, [our] Savior, Make [us] a blessing to someone today.” Amen.
Sunday, Ruth and Boaz
“So she stayed close to the young women of Boaz” (Ruth 2:23).
A small band of “missionaries” travelled from their home congregation in Phoenix to the Navajo nation in Northeastern Arizona. Their purpose was to work on some projects at a Lutheran Mission and help the Navajo people. During the week that they were at the mission, they not only completed their projects, they met new Navajo friends and bonded together as a team.
One remarkable aspect of sharing our blessings and serving others is that we build relationships with other people. We get to know the people whom we serve and we are able to nurture our relationships with those who serve with us. Ruth demonstrates this truth. Not only does she begin a relationship with Boaz because of his generosity, she is also able to work with the young women in Boaz’s field.
Thank you, Lord, for new friends we make as we serve you. Amen.