Ruth’s story in Ruth 1-4 is a rich example for modern Christians. Ruth Beat the Odds, Overcame Ethnic Prejudice, and Respected Bitter Naomi.
She was also willing to take a low position when circumstances required it.
The only type of work Ruth could get in Judah was humble, difficult, and sometimes unsafe.
As a gleaner, Ruth followed behind the paid workers picking up whatever dropped or was left on the stalk. It was difficult physical labor reserved for the poor who had no other means of support.
Paid workers sometimes harassed these gleaners. That’s why Boaz warned his workers “not to lay a hand on” Ruth (Ruth 2:9) and why Naomi warned that Ruth could be harmed in some fields (Ruth 2:22).
We don’t know Ruth’s background, but it’s doubtful she'd ever had to do such demeaning work. You'd never have guessed that, though, from her willing spirit.
How do you respond when asked to do something humble and difficult?
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Below are some pertinent passages.
Romans 12:3: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
True faith causes us to treat all people with kindness.
Romans 12:16: “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
Jesus is our example.
Philippians 2, which reads in part: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Humility always results in God's favor.
1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
See also James 2:1-9.
Bible Love Notes
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