Scripture:
Ruth 2:8-13 ESV
[8] Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. [9] Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” [10] Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me since I am a foreigner?” [11] But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. [12] The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” [13] Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”
Observation:
Ruth was an amazing young lady with a lot of life left in her. Her husband had passed away and her mother-in-law had encouraged her to go and remarry but she could not bring herself to do so. See if she did her mother-in-law would be left to care for herself, and her age was clearly not in a good place to do that. So Ruth loved her and decided to take care of and provide for Naomie her mother-in-law. It was the right thing to do. Although it would appear by doing so that Ruth would have to sacrifice some things that other young women craved like being a mother having a husband and so on Ruth did so willingly and in such a joyful manner that everyone around her saw it. After a day of gathering grain to feed her mother-in-law the young man that was in charge of the field approached her. His request was simple. Don’t go to any other field. Glean here and here only. I have heard who you are as a person and I want to make sure you have all you need. This was a humbling moment for Ruth. Her choice to do the right thing was starting to pay off. Although it’s not why she made the choice it had not gone unnoticed.
Application:
GOD sees all that we do and the spirit that we do it in. If we are doing something to be noticed by others. It’s no secret. We should always do the right thing because it is simply the right thing. If our motives are for the photo opportunity. We should probably just not do anything. The Bible says we love because HE first loved us. I want my life to reflect Jesus. HE did the right thing because it was simply the right thing. There are 2 groups of people spoken about in the bible when the end times are being spoken about. One group is a very dangerous group to be a part of it’s the group that says stuff like…didn’t we speak in your name? Didn’t we heal the sick? Didn’t we…… Didn’t we…… I have come to see this group of people as men and women who are trusting in what they do to get them in the gate. It will never work and what Jesus says in that moment makes that clear. Get away from me. I never knew you. The other group is the group you want to be a part of. This is the group that Ruth will be in. When their deeds are being looked at, will say stuff like…wait when did I feed the homeless? when did I visit the prisoners? When did I…… When did I?….. These people are men and women who are just doing the right thing they don’t care about the picture you just took of them doing it. In fact, they would rather you didn’t take any pictures because they would rather go unnoticed. They do it because it’s right not. To be seen. My point is this. When you do what is right you don’t have to tell anyone. You don’t have to sound some trumpet. You just do it and GOD sees it and knows your heart. That’s all that matters. If HE wants people to know let HIM tell them. That’s how Ruth did it and clearly, it worked for her.
Prayer:
Father, I know it’s later in the day now, and these SOAP’s usually go out earlier but I believe that this one is worth the wait. I know that I am not the one who writes these you are Father. I want you to be seen. In all that is done through the life that you gave me. I pray that no one who reads these SOAP’s seek their own glory. Our lives were bought at a price. The Precious blood of the lamb. Nothing that we do could ever make up for what it cost you. Just to have a relationship with us. I want to thank you for that. I also want to pray that as we go through our day. That you would keep our motives clear of selfish ambitious behavior. That we would not seek our good but the good of others. None of this is about us. It’s all about your plan of redemption, and we had nothing to do with that. It was your plan from the start. Thank you Father for being our Kinsman redeemer. Please keep us safe and our motives clean. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.