Ruth 2, Continued: To Be Different

Ruth 2:11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

What Ruth did was known. And the things she did were good. And the goodness of Ruth reached the ears of one in a position of power and wealth. Boaz heard about Ruth and the good that she bestowed upon Naomi.

There is One who knows you, and all that you do is fully (completely) revealed to Him. From the intent of your heart, He knows even the why's of your works.

Ruth cared for Naomi more than for her own life. That is commendable in the sight of God.

There is a New Testament example of one who was very much like Ruth. His name is Epaphroditus. We are introduced to him in Paul's letter to the Philippians, in the second chapter.

Philippians 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
2:28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
2:30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

We read about a man who placed the work of Christ, and a man named Paul in particular, ahead of his own life. Epaphroditus was sick and nearly died. Yet his regard for the things of God and the needs of one of God's children superceeded his very life and existence. Indeed, it was precisely for the things of God and the family of God that this man existed at all. And the Holy Spirit, through the apostle's writing tells us today to hold such people as these in reputation. We are to regard these folk, who so often go unnoticed.

So Boaz commended Ruth for her kindness, and adds a special blessing: an invocation to the LORD to move on her behalf.

2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Have you yet trusted in the LORD?

When Ruth left her home and her family and all that she knew, she walked into a new realm. What did she learn from that family of Bethlehem? We don't know the conversations of the different belief systems and worldviews that must have occurred then as they so often do now. Scripture does not reveal that much to us. But Moab had its religion, and Ruth chose to leave it. She made that known to Naomi back in first chapter:

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Ruth left everything she believed. She became one of God's own. Of course that happened sometime before she confessed that to Naomi, because her belief was reflected in her character.

Have you left everything for Christ? Or are you still hanging on to vestiges of an old belief system? Ruth left it all. She is commended, and blessed. Do you want to be commended and blessed before God? Then follow the Biblical example.

Boaz blessed Ruth. He told her to stay in his field and he would provide her needs. He bestowed favor and kindness to this stranger from Moab. So Ruth responds:

2:13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

Isn't it interesting that Ruth finds it strange to gain the favor of Boaz because she is not like the other women? Maybe it did not dawn on her that it is precisely because of this that she gained his favor.

How often do people try to blend in with the group? They want to be accepted by the crowd and go to great lengths to be like the others. Ruth was not like that. She cared for Naomi, not the acceptance of the majority. She was different.

Are you different? Or are you like the others? Do you fit in with the rest of the group, or is that your goal? Dare to be different! Be different for God. Set your affections on His family: your brothers and sisters in Christ.

And consider this one phrase in all that you do:

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.