May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”.
Ruth 2:13
Ruth’s humility and dedication are a theme throughout the book of Ruth in the Bible. She is portrayed as a woman who clearly stands for what she believes in and isn’t perturbed by harsh circumstances or obstacles that befell her.
Even though she had no idea what would happen to her if she went out to the field to gather after the workers. She knew that she wasn’t employed and wasn’t required to be there. She had no idea that Boaz would show up that day but she was determined to work in case she found favor in someone’s eyes. She was persistent.
There are those who wouldn’t still have her spirit considering all the misfortunes that had befallen her and her family in another land. Her spirit was never diminished. She was still willing to go out there and work even though it could have gone very wrong for her. Since nobody employed her to be there, she could have left with nothing at the end of the day.
Despite all the risks she still worked hard and wasn’t discouraged. There are moments in your journey as a Christian when the future may look very bleak with no help looking to appear from anywhere. This does not mean that you should give up and stay at home.
The fact that she was willing to go to the field without knowing exactly what was going to happen was a giant leap of faith. She showed that even when there seems to be no hope, you must not give up. The fact that you get up and walk towards possibilities shows that you have faith in the Lord and believe that you can find favor in his eyes.
You never know where your possibilities and opportunities will come from. The most important thing is to put yourself in the right position to receive God’s gifts and blessings. Those who wanted Jesus to help them made sure that they stood where he would meet them. Zaccheus climbed a tree to meet the Messiah and his faith came through for him. You must be prepared to do the same.
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
Ruth 1:16-17
Naomi was not going back to Bethlehem in the best of situations. Her husband’s and son’s deaths were things anyone could have viewed as grave misfortunes and very bad luck. Orpah left immediately when she was asked to leave but Ruth saw something glorious in Naomi.
The way Naomi worshipped God and conducted herself convinced Ruth that she had found something she was willing to follow no matter what. She even swore to Naomi to follow her wherever until death did them part.
Ruth’s determination to follow God’s person not only gave her Boaz but let her become a gateway to the promise of God. Again, as a Christian, you must know the God that you are following. The fact that Ruth did not return to her home but followed Naomi to an unknown place proved her strong faith and convictions about the God of Israel.
Who in her right mind would follow Naomi after all these misfortunes? Ruth paid no mind to the physical manifestations in Naomi’s life but rather to what she stood to gain in her future. This means again that as a Christian you do not always have to dwell on the bad things around you. You must set your eyes on the things above and not be discouraged by the misfortunes that befall you.
You may lose your job, be evicted, be insulted, and experience other hardships that may threaten your Christianity. These things should only cause you to be determined like Ruth. She decided in her heart to follow the Lord.
She followed Naomi because she worshiped the Lord and she wanted to be close to her so she’d take her to her people who also served the Lord. Let your heart be set on the Lord no matter where you find yourself. Yearn for his presence and always look for his people.
Lessons from the Life of Ruth
Faith
Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
Ruth 1:17
This was very bold from Ruth. Considering the fact that she was very far away from her people. She did not give a second thought to following Naomi and worshipping her God. Even though all her experiences thus far were unpleasant in that she had witnessed the deaths of her husband and father-in-law as well as Orpah’s husband, she was defiant in her decision to follow the Lord everywhere she could find him.
As a Christian, you must smell the Lord everywhere you are. It doesn’t matter what negative or bad circumstances have befallen you recently. You must maintain your faith in him and know that your journey with him will end you well.
Ruth’s faith through all her adversities and misfortunes is something every Christian must have. Do not only remember God when times are good for you but rather at all times.
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Humility
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”.
James 4:6
We see from the life of Ruth that she was very humble. She was humble as a wife, a daughter, and a daughter-in-law. Because of this humility, she found favor in the eyes of God, Naomi, and Boaz. Though her glory wasn’t straightforward, she maintained her humility in everything she did. She did not allow circumstances to change her or alter her way of approaching life.
As Christians, we must understand that the fact that we are humble and good to everyone does not mean everyone will be the same to us. Ruth became extremely sad and broken after all that had happened to her. But she did not allow that to change her attitude.
As a Christian, you must make sure that nothing causes you to lose your identity or personality. You must always maintain the good values in you even after your glory days have come. Be humble in poverty or riches and never change because of negativity in your life.
Hard work
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
Ruth was hardworking. Her hard work was for the Lord and not for man. When she was working, she was doing it for a favor from God and not from man. Her motivation for working was to receive blessings from God. When she focused on God, she found favor.
God blessed her through the people she met along the way. Even though she knew that Boaz’s overseers were not instructed to pay her, she still went on to gather the remainder of the grain. To the workers, she was wasting her time but to God, she was at the right place at the right time.
Because she had the right attitude, she was found by grace. There are times in your life when your hard work looks like it’s not going to be rewarded.
Ruth teaches that you must not despair but keep working hard because you may not know who might be looking at you. Keep up your hard work and your blessings will meet you at your point of need.
Perseverance
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
1 Chronicles 16:11
Ruth continually sought the Lord. She was not going to be denied her destiny. Even after Naomi repeatedly told her to go to her people, she still didn’t hear her. Naomi even gave her reasons why she should not follow her.
She gave her permission to turn back because the contract between her and Ruth was dead. Even though it made sense for Ruth to turn back to her people she knew what she wanted from Naomi. Ruth was still a young woman who was capable of having a new husband and her own children.
Following Naomi promised nothing but sadness and disgrace in the land of Bethlehem because of everything that had happened. Ruth persevered and sought after the Lord no matter what the circumstances were.
As a Christian, you must push through any negativity to get to your goals. Because she knew what she wanted to do, she was determined to get to that end no matter what. This should be your attitude as a Christian.
A blessing
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25
Ruth ended up being a blessing always because she was never looking out for herself alone. When she got back with Naomi she was determined to get some work to do to help them survive. She also became a blessing to Boaz because he immediately realized that the favor of God was on Ruth. Ruth was a blessing to Naomi because she caused her to smile again.
Ruth allowed herself to be used by the Lord and this caused her to have a glorious future. As a Christian, you must not be characterized by confusion and conflict. Wherever you are present you must be a blessing.
You must make everyone around you experience the grace and favor of God. Wherever you step there must be calm and love. You must bring prosperity and goodness with your presence always.
Submission
Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.
Job 22:21.
Ruth was submissive to the Lord. She was submissive to her husband right until the end. She was submissive to Naomi all throughout as well. As a Christian, you must not choose when to be submissive. You must always be submissive to the Lord and in all your relationships.
Ruth showed that she was willing to do her duty in any circumstance as she had promised. If you expect the Lord to honor His commitments to you, you must honor your commitments to Him and others. Do as your duty requires always and not just when it suits you.
God never disappoints his children and he gives them what they need at the right time. Be a submissive Christian and honor your duties as needed always.
