Calendar

PROVIDENCE, CHOICES, AND FAMILY LIFE (16)
MONDAY, AUGUST 19
Ruth 3:14-18

1 Samuel 2:27-36

 

“…for them that honour me,

I will honour…”

 

PROVIDENCE, CHOICES, AND FAMILY LIFE (16)
 
If there is a lesson that comes out clearly from the life of Ruth, it must be that God is able to guide and bless. God’s providence works for the glory of God and the blessing of His obedient children. Ruth came to put her trust under the wings of the LORD and God did lead, provide and bless her life above what anyone (including Ruth herself) could anticipate, think or ask. Probably as she slept at the feet of Boaz, there might have been some comfort knowing that her request had been accepted and would be attended to in the morning, but what would happen in the morning was unexpected to her.
 
“…Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it…” (Ruth 3:15). The words of Boaz in Ruth 3:14 that called for discretion in view of the fact that there was a nearer kinsman and she could be offered to another, did not hinder his gifting of Ruth with “six measures of barley” before she left for the city. Many tried to speculate the purpose of the gift, but the Scripture does not specify. But to the generosity of the gift, the Scripture does point out that Boaz “laid it on her” implying that he helped her lift it and got it properly balanced so that she could carry it into the city as she went home.
 
Ruth willingly took the gift and dutifully went with it home to her mother-in-law. Though she had great hope of what the day would bring, she did not disdain the gift given to her, and she bore the load home probably by carrying it on her head. The picture that the Book of Ruth accords us is that honest labour is nothing to be ashamed of. We see that in Boaz, a mighty man of wealth sleeping out in the threshing floor and personally attending to the matters of his fields and harvest. We then see Ruth, while seeing herself as a poor widow and a stranger, was diligent and committed to gleaning the fields, and yet even after placing a request and having hopes of becoming Mrs Boaz, she still bore the load of six measures and walked with it into the city and home. Honest labour is nothing to be ashamed of, but is to be honoured.
 
THOUGHT: (Read Hebrews 13:16.)

PRAYER: Father, may we as faithful stewards use Thy gifts to us well.

Search