Ruth

April 18

Ruth 3:1-11

Loyalty is rewarded

Day after day, Ruth gathered grain from the field of Boaz (a relative of Naomi). One day, Naomi said to Ruth, “I must find a husband for you so that you can have your own home again. Boaz, in whose field you have been working, will be threshing barley tonight. Now, get dressed in your best clothes, put on some perfume, and go to where he is threshing; but don’t let him see you. This evening, when he has finished eating, see where he lies down and when he is asleep, go lie at his feet.”

Ruth did everything exactly as Naomi had told her to do. When Boaz woke up in the night, he said, “Who are you?”

Ruth answered, “It is Ruth, Sir. You are my relative. Please will you look after me?”

Then Boaz replied, “The Lord bless you! You are showing even greater loyalty by doing this than by what you have done for your mother-in-law.”

What is true loyalty?

Loyalty is a quality that doesn’t always seem that important to people. Often, a person’s physical strength, power, influence, wealth, and cleverness impress people far more than his or her loyalty. Yet God sees things differently (1 Samuel 16:7).

Loyalty: 

• ties love and faithfulness together.

• does not expect to be rewarded.

• wants only the best for the other person.

• is costly—it may cost a life.

• does not quit.

• does not change sides.

• takes time to prove itself.

Verse for today

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10