She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much grain she had gathered. Then Ruth gave her the roasted grain she had saved from mealtime. Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May the one who took notice of you be rewarded!" So Ruth told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked. She said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz." Naomi said to he daughter-in-law, "May he be rewarded by the Lord because he has shown loyalty to the living on behalf of the dead!" Then Naomi said to her, "This man is a close relative of ours; he is our guardian." Ruth the Moabite replied, "He even told me, 'You may go along beside my servants until they have finished gathering all my harvest!'" Naomi then said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, "It is good, my daughter, that you should go out to work with his female servants. That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field." So Ruth worked beside Boaz's female servants, gathering grain until the end of the barley harvest as well as the wheat harvest. After that she stayed home with her mother-in-law. Ruth 2:18-23
As we look at this passage of scripture from the book of Ruth, we see two important actions that go along with serving the Lord.
First, we see how Naomi is praising God for his gifts given to them thru the man Boaz. It is in his fields that Ruth has been working. Boaz has been so kind to Ruth and offered so much more than he does others that have come to gather the leftover grain in his fields. He has treated Ruth as he would one of his own workers. In the last verse of the passage we looked at last week, she went home with thirty pounds of barley. And, as we'll see in later verses, she comes home another day with twice that amount. The Lord has worked thru Boaz to provide for Ruth and Naomi. They both recognize the goodness of God and are singing His praises.
If we look back to earlier scriptures in this story we find Naomi feeling alone and bitter. But, look to these verses and we see how Naomi is beginning to see God's plan for her unfold. She is able to recognize that, although she has been dealt a tough blow in life, that God is forever faithful. While she has known all along that God does have a plan and would provide her needs, she is now able to begin seeing the plan unfold. What a difference it makes for her and how great it is to praise the Lord for His provisions!
The second point we see is that Ruth is a hard worker. Yes, the Lord is providing, and yes, Ruth and Naomi are deserving of all the kindnesses bestowed on them. But, Ruth isn't just sitting around and letting someone hand it over to her with no work done on her part. I see this as an incredibly important aspect of this story.
God does promise to meet our needs. He promises to always be with us and love us and protect us. However, he also gave us the ability to work, the ability to be responsible, the ability to sweat a little. When we pray to God for whatever it is we might need, I really don't think He expects us to just sit around and wait for it to be dropped in our laps. He expects us to get out and work for it, too.
For example, what if I am in need of a job? Should I just pray and pray and then sit on my sofa in front of the television set and wait for the phone to ring? NO! I must get out and do my part, too. I need to work and search the want ads, go to job interviews, mail resumes, etc. God gave us abilities and talents for many purposes and one of them is to care for ourselves and our families. Yes, He will lead us to the right job, but we've got to work WITH God.
My prayer this week is that I would never fail to praise the Lord for the provisions He gives to me and my family and friends. I pray I would always recognize it all as coming from Him and not because of anything that I did or think that I deserve. I pray that as I seek His direction and His provisions for my family that I would never fail to get out and do my part, as well. That I would take the abilities that He has given me to provide and care as He directs.
I pray that I would remember Ruth and, as God provided, she worked and she listened and she praised.
As we look at this passage of scripture from the book of Ruth, we see two important actions that go along with serving the Lord.
First, we see how Naomi is praising God for his gifts given to them thru the man Boaz. It is in his fields that Ruth has been working. Boaz has been so kind to Ruth and offered so much more than he does others that have come to gather the leftover grain in his fields. He has treated Ruth as he would one of his own workers. In the last verse of the passage we looked at last week, she went home with thirty pounds of barley. And, as we'll see in later verses, she comes home another day with twice that amount. The Lord has worked thru Boaz to provide for Ruth and Naomi. They both recognize the goodness of God and are singing His praises.
If we look back to earlier scriptures in this story we find Naomi feeling alone and bitter. But, look to these verses and we see how Naomi is beginning to see God's plan for her unfold. She is able to recognize that, although she has been dealt a tough blow in life, that God is forever faithful. While she has known all along that God does have a plan and would provide her needs, she is now able to begin seeing the plan unfold. What a difference it makes for her and how great it is to praise the Lord for His provisions!
The second point we see is that Ruth is a hard worker. Yes, the Lord is providing, and yes, Ruth and Naomi are deserving of all the kindnesses bestowed on them. But, Ruth isn't just sitting around and letting someone hand it over to her with no work done on her part. I see this as an incredibly important aspect of this story.
God does promise to meet our needs. He promises to always be with us and love us and protect us. However, he also gave us the ability to work, the ability to be responsible, the ability to sweat a little. When we pray to God for whatever it is we might need, I really don't think He expects us to just sit around and wait for it to be dropped in our laps. He expects us to get out and work for it, too.
For example, what if I am in need of a job? Should I just pray and pray and then sit on my sofa in front of the television set and wait for the phone to ring? NO! I must get out and do my part, too. I need to work and search the want ads, go to job interviews, mail resumes, etc. God gave us abilities and talents for many purposes and one of them is to care for ourselves and our families. Yes, He will lead us to the right job, but we've got to work WITH God.
My prayer this week is that I would never fail to praise the Lord for the provisions He gives to me and my family and friends. I pray I would always recognize it all as coming from Him and not because of anything that I did or think that I deserve. I pray that as I seek His direction and His provisions for my family that I would never fail to get out and do my part, as well. That I would take the abilities that He has given me to provide and care as He directs.
I pray that I would remember Ruth and, as God provided, she worked and she listened and she praised.
3 Thoughts Shared:
Ruth is one of my heroes! What great insights you've made into her character!
Blessings,
Abigail @ Pearls and Diamonds
Melanie,
I like what you said:"If we look back to earlier scriptures in this story we find Naomi feeling alone and bitter. But, look to these verses and we see how Naomi is beginning to see God's plan for her unfold. She is able to recognize that, although she has been dealt a tough blow in life, that God is forever faithful. While she has known all along that God does have a plan and would provide her needs, she is now able to begin seeing the plan unfold. What a difference it makes for her and how great it is to praise the Lord for His provisions!"
I really needed to read this ...especially this part. I know God has a plan....I am just so ready to see it unfold. My plate is so full right now ...to me it is overflowing. With our finances all out of sorts...our daughter running from God and us with no contact...my mom being sick in and out of hospital....juggling where she will spend the night with my sister. I feel as though my life is spiraling out of control. I know that God is with me and is carrying me through all this ..I just really don't know how much more I can handle. I keep thinking as long as I am praying and doing God's will that things will get better. Instead it feels as though it gets worse. I will not give up...I have hope ...I know that God will supply all my needs and HE will see my family through this storm. I am just sooo ready for some smoothe waters.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Darlene
I love that God is forever faithful! That is so comforting and encouraging to me... I agree with you that God expects us to step up and take some responsibility, to work at things and not just expect Him to drop them in our laps. I also think He is often times waiting for us to step out in faith, showing that we believe Him even when we can not see answers or a solution to our problem. When we step out in faith, in many instances, is when His answer or provision comes...
Blessings!
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