Hustle Like Ruth

There are so many inspiring stories in the Bible and I love that some of those stories are women.  There is something different about a woman’s heart and to see God honor the hearts of women makes me love Him so much more.  We are His daughters and, just like His sons, He loves us dearly.

One of those amazing women is Ruth.  Ruth had an unusual story.  She finds herself in the old testament and is not a Hebrew/Israelite.  No, she is from Moab and her descendants were the result of incest.  A very disturbing story – anyone from this pagan city looked less than great.  They were outcasts.

Ruth’s story in the Bible begins with tragedy – her husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law all died very close together.  It is through this tragedy that God brought out the character of Ruth.  We can know her past and who she came from, but when she faced the unbearable, we see who she is individually.

Naomi – her mother-in-law told both Ruth and Orpah (her sister-in-law) to go back home to their families and culture because there would be no place for them back in Israel.  After much convincing Orpah said her goodbyes and did what Naomi asked.  But Ruth was stubborn – she knew what her assignment was.  Ruth 1:16-18 says: “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!’  When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.”

When Ruth got to Bethlehem – Naomi sent her to glean barley – something widows did to get food when they had no man to support them.  She happened upon Boaz’s field – a man of integrity and a man who has heard what Ruth had done for her mother-in-law.  So he showed her favor.  She came back the first night with about 30 pounds of barley.  30 pounds!!!  After she realized that not only was Boaz a nice man, but was a blood relative, she was able to be redeemed.  Boaz became her husband and they had a son, Obed who was the father of Jesse who was the father of King David.  (Read her entire story in the book of Ruth – it is only 4 chapters long, but packed full of wisdom).  Her faithfulness, servant’s heart and willingness to do the hard things to help others got her in the lineage of King David and Jesus.

Ruth found her success by serving others.  It wasn’t because she had the best Instagram posts, she spoke the best in front of others or that she was the prettiest.  No, she didn’t go out to be the center of attention or to even get recognized.  Ruth found favor when she put others first.  The prize when she went the extra, extra mile was to find herself worthy to be a decedent of Jesus.

My challenge to you, reader, is to find ways you can serve others.  Serve others, not because it will take you places, not so you can get things, not so that you can be seen, but to just be a blessing.  Other people may not even see what you are doing.  Good, because God sees it.  An audience with God where He finds you pleasing is enough.  I will tell you from experience, serving others because you know that is the right thing to do will take you places far greater than when you serve only yourself.

Be a blessing to someone, y’all.  And do it from the heart!