The Reward of Loyalty

Intro

While I love stories; I don’t love “love” stories

Not my cup of tea; seem to set up some pretty unrealistic expectations!

The book of Ruth certainly didn’t begin as a romance

Chapter 1 was a tragedy! Naomi lost her husband and both sons, and one daughter-in-law left as well

Just Ruth remained, and they returned to Naomi’s home in Bethlehem desitute and uncertain

How could romance possibly enter the picture?

The Story

Introducing: Boaz (Ruth 2:1)

A relative of Elimelech (Naomi’s late husband)

Not a close relative; we are talking extended family (almost like a clan)

He is said to be a “worthy"man

Names are important!

Refer to Eli’s assingment and my name = manly

Boaz = strength

Hebrew word for worthy = mighty of wealth

Boaz was a prominent landowner and was well off

More than just wealthy; that term can mean strong in character; strong in reputation; strong in courage/valour

As we learn more about Boaz, we see that all these things are true (“worthy”)

Ruth decides to glean from a field during barley season

Read Ruth 2:2.

Ruth is hopeful that she might find favour in the sight of someone who will have mercy on her and Naomi

Even after all that has happened, here is optimism and hope

She gleaned in the field after the reapers

Gleaning was a practice commanded by God to look after the marginalized

Cf. Lev. 19:9-10.

“The margins are for the marginalized”

Ruth found herself gleaning in the field of Boaz

“She happened” to come to the field of Boaz

Hebrew tongue-in-cheek saying; really points to God’s providence

It also just so happened that Boaz came from Bethlehem to visit his field

His greeting to his workers shows he is a man of faith

Read Ruth 2:4.

Likely a somewhat standard greeting, but we see it nowhere else

Ruth IMMEDIATELY catches his eye

Read Ruth 2:5-7.

Ruth would have stood out because she was new and he didn’t recognize her

But it is almost certain that she caught his eye for her beauty as well

God has brought Ruth and Boaz to the same field at the same time, and a budding romance begins in our story

Boaz was an older man, but single (likely quite the eligible bachelor)

Ruth was younger, beautiful.... but had absolutely nothing to give

She was a foreigner, homeless, gleaning the fields, attached to a bitter old woman

Still, Boaz approaches Ruth and shows how “worthy” of a man he is

Read Ruth 2:8-9.

He asks Ruth to stay and glean on his field only

Gives her preferential treatment by allowing her to keep close to those reaping (getting better results), offering safety and security from the men working the field, and inviting her to drink the same water as the servants (thirsty work)

Ruth falls down to the ground out of honest gratitude

Read Ruth 2:10.

Remember, she has nothing to offer Boaz! She is widowed, homeless, hungry and only has a bitter mother-in-law for company. Why is Boaz doing this?

Boaz’s response is incredible

Read Ruth 2:11-12.

He has heard of Naomi… and of Ruth (Bethlehem was buzzing)

He is impressed at her loyalty to Naomi, and that she was willing to pay the price of loyalty by leaving her family, her land and coming to a foreign place

A “worthy” man recognizes a “worthy” woman (game recognize game)

Then he prays for her a prayer of blessing

Ruth responds that she has found favour in his eyes, just as she hoped to do at the beginning of the chapter (Read Ruth 2:13)

The Lesson

God providentially cares for you

His fingerprints are all over the details of this story:

Ruth “happened” to find herself on the field of Boaz

Who “happened” to choose that exact moment to visit his field

Where he “happened” to take notice of Ruth

Who “happened” to find favour in the eyes of Boaz… just as she prayed for

I don’t believe in happenstance; I believe in God’s providence

This type of security provided by God’s providence is described as being “under his wings”

Boaz prayed for it (v. 12); Psalms later used this imagery too

Cf. Psalm 36:7-9.

Picture is of a baby bird kept safe and sound in the nest by a mother bird

True for Ruth, and true for you

God can care for you in the same way he cared for Ruth

Bring you to the right place at the right time; meet the right people; hear the right piece of advice; get offered the right job; so many ways

Tell the story of my djembe -> Once Lost -> Karen

While there is a price to loyalty, there is also a reward to loyalty

Last week, the focus was on the price that Ruth paid to “cling to” Naomi

Gave up her family, home, hope of remarrying; took on uncertainty, poverty, and a strange people in a strange land

For better or for worse, Ruth was committed to Naomi

This week, the price she paid was the EXACT reason she was rewarded for her loyalty

Re-read Ruth 2:11.

It is not just that there are some good times and some bad times, but that we are able to reap the benefits of loyalty precisely BECAUSE we paid the price

Years of healthy marriage in examples of my Dad and Al Heinrichs; we receive much out of relationships when we give much

Prayer is a combination of request and action

One other lesson we briefly touched on last Sunday was the power of prayer

It’s not the only thing we can do; it is powerful and effective

Boaz believed this, and he prayed for Ruth

Re-read Ruth 2:12.

Boaz didn’t JUST pray, he was willing to be part of the answer to that prayer

He started “repaying” Ruth by giving her special gleaning priveleges (they wouldn’t go hungry), access to water (wouldn’t go thirsty) and the guarantee of these things throughout the harvest (level of security)

We should ALWAYS ask how we can be an answer to someone’s prayer

Talk about the “empty” notion of “thoughts and prayers” after a mass shooting

Move to the empty “I will pray for you” Christian nicety

Make sure you pray, and then think of a way to be part of the answer:

Someone is struggling with mental health, give them your time

Someone is recovering from surgery or just had a baby, give them food

Someone just lost a loved one, give them your comfort (and food);

Talk about Bill going to as many funerals as possible

Someone just lost their job, give them some money to help make ends meet

Someone is being bullied at school, stick up for them (at risk of social standing)

Someone is overwhelmed with parenting, offer to babysit!

So many other examples!

Refer to Lillis’ idea for the “sharing fence” she shared last week

What are you praying for? Now, how can you be part of that answer?

Conclusion

Because Ruth was willing to pay the price of loyalty, she also reaped the reward of loyalty

God cared for her in His providence, brought her to Boaz

Who was willing to be part of the answer to his prayer for her

God sees what you are doing for others

There is refuge under his wings for you

Others will recognize this as well and be part of God’s providence in your life

Pray