Kindness, Provision, Protection

"Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.' ... At mealtime Boaz said to her, 'Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.' So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left. When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, 'Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.'" -Ruth 2.8-9, 14-16

Boaz was a relative of Elimelech, and in the absence of his relative, he does what he can to take care of his widow. Ruth was a foreigner, a woman from Moab, and was not part of the chosen people, he could have rejected her and been considered a good Israelite. But he hears her story and he extends kindness to her. He provides for her and protects her. This is the role of a man. he sees her need and acts.

I will admit that there are times I am skeptical about the genuineness of people's needs. Today we live in a world where many want to live off of others, and their laziness has made it much harder for those who really do need help. But are we willing to offer help and protection to those who need it? Do we show kindness to those society would encourage us to ignore.

Men, do you show kindness? Do you provide assistance and protection for those who are in need of it? Do you offer your service without any ulterior motive or thought of being paid back? Boaz does all of this for Ruth because of what she has done for Naomi.

Let us be men of kindness. Let us use our strength to offer aid to those who need it. Let us protect others and keep them from harm.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor