Biblically Ruth-ed Christian

Dear readers,

Many a times we have a tendency to put God in a box. We think God is confined by the restrains of our thinking but we forget that it is He who gave us this cranial capacity. Something similar happened today as I was going about my daily routine. God spoke to me what I am going to share with you now when I was least expecting it. So let’s dig into the word of God straightway.

Let’s begin by reading Ruth 2. I personally would encourage you to read the entire book of Ruth. It only takes a couple of minutes but for now, I would like to focus on chapter 2. In this chapter we see Ruth meeting Boaz for the first time. She goes out to collect grain for her mother in law and herself where she catches the eye of her future husband Boaz. What do we have to learn from this? A very important lesson! It teaches us how to live our lives as Christians and our walk in the presence of God. When we accept Christ Jesus as our Lord and saviour and get saved, what do we do next? Let’s put ourselves in the place of Ruth to get an answer.

1. It was Ruth who took the initiative of picking up grain from wherever she could find it. That’s the first step. We need to take the initiative to gather spiritual food for ourselves. You do this primarily by reading the Bible, collecting commentaries, watching Christian TV, etc. It is only when you are hungry that God can feed you. Unlike many parents, Jesus does not force feed! 
2. Next, Ruth began to glean in the field of Boaz behind the harvesters. Now wait a minute, how did she end up the fields of a kinsman? Was it by accident? Beloved brothers and sisters, one thing every Christian needs to understand is that there are no accidents in the kingdom of God. He put her there. Another thing that I would like to bring to your attention is that she gleaned BEHIND the harvesters. Who were they? They were servants who were sent to work in the fields of their master. We too need to get ourselves under a servant of God. Join a good church under a man of God who can provide for your spiritual needs. Many of the Old Testament men of God were blessed because they served the servants of God. For example, Joshua served Moses; Elisha served Elijah; etc. Everyone wants to serve the master but we must learn to serve a servant of the master first. Jesus is the perfect example in the New Testament who, being the son of the master, served His father faithfully, even to the cross. I must tell you, I learned this while literally walking behind my pastor.
3. Picking it up at verse 7 now, it says that Ruth worked steadily in the field from morning only stopping for a short while to take rest. How many of our lives have become just the opposite today? We waste most of our time doing things that do not matter and spend only a couple of hours in the fellowship of God. I do not suggest that you sit at home the whole day praying and don’t go to school or for work. Although personal prayer in the quiet confines of your room is mandatory for every Christian, but our God is the God of all things. Hence, you can go to college or work in an office or even be a pizza delivery guy and still be in constant fellowship with God. 
4. Boaz, impressed by Ruth’s humility, tells her not to go away into other fields but stay with his servants. This is the stage when God ordains you into a particular ministry/church. God puts you under the protection and care of a shepherd. Just as Boaz allowed Ruth to drink from the jars his men had filled, God allots you a particular vessel from which you can avail of His spiritual water. In verse 22, Naomi tells Ruth to stay in this field or else she might be harmed. Similarly, when we stray away from under the wings of our shepherd, we run the risk of being harmed. How? Because by going away, you directly go against the will of God.
5. The Bible tells us that at mealtime, Boaz offered Ruth to sit at the table with the harvesters and she was given bread, grains and wine vinegar. Not only did she eat and fill herself, she also had some left over. This is where God lifts you up. He will allow you to gain the insight, knowledge, and all kinds of blessings that his servants enjoy, so much of it that your heart will overflow with His spirit. Be careful! This is also the time, we become most vulnerable to pride. We may feel that we have enough to take over at this point. It is essential that no matter how big a commission you receive from God, you always continue to serve the man of God you have been placed under.
6. Now Boaz’s heart was moved toward Ruth and he orders his servants to let her take from the sheaves and even pull out some stalks and leave them for her. All this while she had been collecting the leftovers but now she was, without her knowledge, collecting from the main harvest (something only the rightful owners of the crop could do). One can’t help but be reminded of the incident with Jesus and the woman in Matthew 15: 21-28 who humbled herself to the taking the position of dogs but found favour in the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we learn to be humble like these two women, God will exalt us also both, in the sight of our friends and our enemies.

When Ruth returned back to her mother in law Naomi, she took with her an ephah (an Old Testament Hebrew measure approximately equal to 35 litres). That was besides the food she ate from Boaz’s table. Not just that, if we read further, Boaz ultimately marries Ruth and it is from their line that the messiah comes into this world. Praise God! The same way, if we tarry on till the end, we will surely be rewarded. Trust me, you and I do not have the capacity to even begin thinking about what a great bounty awaits the faithful ones.

So to summarize, want to be a good and blessed Christian? Easy! Hunger for the Lord, humble yourself and learn to faithfully serve a servant before you can be trusted with the affairs of the master. It is also very important that you are guided through this process by a mature and biblically sound man of God. So join a small prayer group, ministry or church where you can be well fed. And in the end when you are filled, do not forget to share this sweet and tender spirit of God with others. As you empty yourself by giving it to others, our father in heaven will replenish you.

God bless you.