Reputation of Ruth
Reputation of Ruth. As I read the verses shown above from Ruth 2, I thought of the saying, "No man is an island." In other words, what we are and what we do is plainly observed by those in the world around us.
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
6 So
the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is
the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of
Moab. 7 And
she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the
sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though
she rested a little in the house.”
Ruth 2:5-7, NKJV
Reputation of Ruth
In our story today, Boaz
noticed a young woman he had not seen before and inquired as to her
identity. The servant explained that this was the young Moabite woman who
came back with Naomi. He then further explained that she requested to
glean after the reapers and had been working diligently from the morning
until this time with a little rest in the house. This servant was already establishing the good reputation of Ruth.
Granted, Bethlehem was a
small town so everyone probably knew everything about everyone. Boaz
probably had a pretty good idea who this young woman happened to be.
However, without any more prompting, the servant noted her faithfulness
in staying on task from the morning until then with only a little rest
in the house. Even though Ruth had probably only been in Bethlehem a
very short while, she was already gaining a good reputation among the
people.
Do people notice us? Does
it matter? We all know of the people who tend to work hard when the boss
is around, but then can become quite passive or even idle when the boss
is away. We get the impression from this passage that Ruth is not one
of those people. What kind of work ethic do we, as Christians, have
especially when the boss is not around. What kind of work ethic do we
have at home when there is no boss?
As Christians, we
understand that we have a God-given purpose for being here that goes far
beyond our careers. How diligent are we before the Lord Jesus Christ?
Does He notice?
I would like to challenge
each one to work diligently for the Lord. Let us be serious about
serving Christ, reading His Word, spending time in prayer, and living
our lives in a manner that shows His love in our hearts and lives. Even
during times of difficulties, poor health, or just on days we feel
particularly unhappy, let us lift our eyes to Christ and pray that He
will help us to live each day in the peace and joy He, alone, can grant
to us.
I am reminded of the words of the hymn, "Work for the Night is Coming" by Anna Coghill:
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work ’mid springing flow’rs.
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.
Mark 13 encourages us to diligently work for the Lord for we do not know
when our Master will return. Let us work now so that when He returns He
will not find us sleeping!
32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It
is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave
authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the
doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch
therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is
coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in
the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Go then, this day, and work joyfully for the Lord Jesus Christ as you think about the good reputation of Ruth as shown in Ruth 2.
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