A Last Act of Kindness

Scripture: He [Boaz] said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Spread your cloak over me, for you are a redeeming kinsman." He said, "May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last act of kindness to be greater than the first, because you have not pursued young men, whether poor or rich." Ruth 3:9-10

Observation: Ruth has gone to present herself to Boaz (some might state 'seduce') but makes a specific claim in the process - that Boaz is the redeeming kinsman of her family. This would follow the Jewish instructions that, if a man dies childless, there is a hierarchy of who marries the widow. This was done to ensure lineages, but also to continue family ownership of land. Therefore, by making this claim, Ruth is actually making two implicit declarations.

First, Ruth is stating that the land of Elimelek is "in play" so to speak. Elimelek has no surviving male heir, Naomi is too old, and thus as the widow of Mahlon it is by claiming Ruth and eventually producing a male heir that one may legally and permanently acquire this land.

Second, and more importantly, Ruth is stating that she is totally and completely compliant with Jewish custom ... that she is effectively a Jew. As a foreigner, she does not need to comply with this process. She was young enough to remarry, and thus could have chosen any man in Bethlehem to pursue. If she had, her new husband would certainly also provide care for Naomi. Instead, she has chosen the completely Jewish path: Ruth chose to reduce herself to being the contractual vehicle for a land purchase. Boaz acknowledges this ... her first act of kindness toward Naomi was to return to Bethlehem with her as her daughter, but her last act of kindness is to fully adopt Naomi's family structure and ethnic practices in a subservient manner.

Application: Ruth exemplifies love for another. Again, Ruth could have pursued any manner of life, and there is plenty of evidence that she was likely beautiful enough to remarry (she seduces Boaz, he previously has to warn other men to not harm her). Instead, she leaves her home, life, country, and family, simply to care for her mother in-law. She chooses to live in relative poverty in a foreign country, where she becomes a manual laborer working for only the food she can carry to sustain both of them. And now she gives over her very self in order to not only care for Naomi, but to do so in the manner that best honors Naomi not herself.

When I say I want to learn how to love people, how often do I think about showing them kindness, but ignore the idea of showing them kindness on THEIR terms? Ruth could have loved Naomi by staying in Moab and weeping for her old widowed mother in-law. Instead, Ruth loved on Naomi's terms. Her love was hands-on practical, and it was also heart-felt compassionate. She cared for Naomi's life, and then cared for her soul by honoring her customs when she could have found a different way more pleasing to herself.

Likewise, I can't love others on my terms.

Prayer: Father, I pray for all those around me today. I have become increasingly frustrated, even disturbed, by their level of brokenness. However, I have also become aware that I am not providing a place of restoration. May I love others more than I love myself, and may I care for them where they are mentally and spiritually, not where I am. Amen.