What can we learn about kindness from Boaz's actions in Ruth 2:14? Setting the Scene • Ruth, a Moabite widow, is gleaning in Boaz’s barley field. • Boaz has already granted her permission to glean (Ruth 2:8–9) and ensured her protection. • Ruth 2:14: “At mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come over here, have some bread, and dip it in the vinegar sauce.’ So she sat down beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left over.” Snapshots of Boaz’s Kindness • Personal invitation — “Come over here” ‑ Boaz closes the gap between landowner and foreign laborer, modeling the heart of Leviticus 19:34. • Shared table — “have some bread … dip it in the vinegar sauce” ‑ He offers the same food he enjoys, treating Ruth as family, not charity. • Active service — “he offered her roasted grain” ‑ Boaz doesn’t merely allow; he serves. True kindness moves from permission to participation (cf. Mark 10:45). • Abundant provision — “she ate and was satisfied and had some left over” ‑ Kindness is generous, echoing God’s own giving nature (Psalm 23:5; Ephesians 3:20). • Public affirmation — Ruth eats “beside the harvesters.” ‑ Boaz’s kindness unfolds in front of others, setting a standard for his workforce (Proverbs 14:21). Principles for Today • Kindness welcomes outsiders into fellowship, not merely aid. • Kindness protects dignity by serving, not showcasing superiority. • Kindness gives more than the minimum, reflecting the Lord’s lavish grace. • Kindness influences community culture; one person’s mercy can recalibrate an entire workplace or church. Further Scriptural Echoes • Leviticus 19:9–10 — fields left for the poor establish the legal backdrop; Boaz goes beyond the law. • Proverbs 19:17 — “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD.” • Ephesians 4:32 — “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as in Christ God forgave you.” • 1 John 3:18 — “let us love not in word or speech but in action and truth.” Putting Kindness into Practice • Invite, don’t just permit. Make room at your literal or figurative table. • Serve personally. Look for moments to meet needs with your own hands. • Give until others are “satisfied and have some left over.” • Model mercy publicly so kindness becomes contagious. |
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