Ruth 2:14-16

YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME

Lunch-break in the field was not the most ideal setting for a "first date" but it would have to do. Boaz' generosity has now moved beyond an admiration for a widowed woman who had left everything to take care of her widowed mother-in-law (remember that Boaz had heard all about Ruth's and Naomi's 10 years in Moab and their return to Bethlehem). We see a man not trying to impress a woman with his wealth, but a man of means simply trying to impress a woman to whom he is attracted. He invites her to eat with him and his workers. The bread and the wine vinegar would have been a typical lunch in the field, but Boaz goes beyond the "brown bag special" and takes the time to roast some grain. So much food did he have prepared that Ruth couldn't finish everything—even after working hard in the field throughout the morning. If it hadn't been clear to his workers by now that their boss had taken a liking to Ruth, it became obvious when he gave strict instructions to leave extra stalks for her from their bundles. No words were to be spoken among themselves, to Ruth, or to the other women who were gleaning. Certainly Ruth picked up on the generosity of the meal but had she picked up on Boaz' feelings? We're not told. One would think that the effort on his part would be hard to miss.

We don't have to fall in love with someone to show them acts of kindness. We can be generous to all. We can look out for others. We can share with those in need. We can defend those who can't defend themselves. We can encourage, support, and advise those who seem to be lost in life. We can do this for all people because it's not our love for them that moves us to action, but rather it's our love for the Lord that moves us to action. Showing kindness to others is a simple fruit of our faith that naturally flows from the love of the Lord that moved him to act on our behalf and in our place to save us from sin.