We Reap What We Sow

Sommer Worley

Ruth • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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I watched a little of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial this week. This is the case where a 18 year old shot a protester during a night of riots. Kyle pleaded self-defense, saying that he was threatened. I was watching some of the cross-examination of the Prosecution of Mr. Rittenhouse following his testimony of those nights events. Right or wrong, my opinion on this case bares no relevance to what I want to say to you. The reason I bring this up is because of the situation that Kyle was in at that moment. The District Attorney, asked tough questions. Sometimes it seems like he was asking the same question multiple times in different ways. I was an attempt to get Mr. Rittenhouse to admit to some detail that would show his guilt. Earlier, Kyle Rittenhouse broke-down on the stand recalling the moment he shot his gun. Yet, at the cross-examination, Kyle showed a level of peace and calm that I don’t think I could have achieved had it been me on the stand. He answered every question very well and consistent. He knew his truth and communicated it quite well.

Today, as our story of Ruth progresses, we find Ruth starting a new life, beginning work in the best way and at the best place she could find. Ruth had to do all she could in this moment, regardless of the outcome. People could not only reject her, but she could find herself with no means of support and could even be harmed physically. But what we find in our text today, Ruth had a plan and a determination to see the best outcome possible.

Pray and read Ruth 2:1-17

Ruth 2:1–17 NRSV

Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” They answered, “The Lord bless you.” Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “To whom does this young woman belong?” The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.’ So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.” Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” Then she said, “May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.” At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, “Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

We left off last week with Naomi and Ruth arriving in Naomi’s homeland of Bethlehem just as the barley harvest had begun. The writer of the story introduces to us readers a new character, a person of interest names Boaz. Boaz just happened to be a wealthy (and that word is highlighted in this passage) relative of Naomi’s late husband Elimelech. In Hebrew culture, the next-of-kin is the male leader or patriarch of the family. For this example, Elimelech was the patriarch. When He died, his oldest son would take responsibility for Naomi as well as both Ruth and Orpah. But since both sons had died, the care for Naomi goes to Elimelech’s brother or oldest son if the brother is deceased. The deal is, Boaz, is not directly named as the family’s patriarch. However, he is stated to be the wealthy land owner in the family and having major prominence in Bethlehem.

That is why Naomi and Ruth were staying there. Ruth, shortly after getting settled asks Naomi if she can go collect the ears of grain that are being left by the collectors during this harvest time. This job was the lowest job a person could have. Being a gleaner or collector was below being a reaper. A reaper worked under the managers of the field. Often times, a gleaner is not even important enough to be hired to do, the poorest people in the community were allowed to pick up the remnants. This is what Ruth is willingly asking to do for the sake of her and Naomi. This was a humbling job to say the least. Talk about starting from nothing, this is exactly what Ruth was doing. The question becomes, with whom would she find favor?

Ruth was poor and not ashamed of her circumstances. She knew that she had nothing, but that would not stop her from earning all that she could. There was no fear of rejection, she went out to do what needed to be done and prayed that she would be allowed to do all she could. It is no doubt that Ruth knew that her circumstances put her in a tough spot. But she knew what she needed to do. So, as the story goes, she just so happens upon Boaz’s land gleaning grain when he shows back up from a trip to the big city of Bethlehem. No, Bethlehem in actuality is not that big, but it was their equivalent to Nashville, or what Nashville is for us. Bethlehem is where the majority of business happens.

I love the way the writer puts this, that Ruth just so happens to be on Boaz’s land when Boaz just so happens to return from his business trip. Reminds me of a Hallmark movie. Is it going to work out between them? Are they going to fall in love? But they are so different, is this possible? Of course it is, God is in charge. God always has a plan. God loves a good love story as well!

Isn’t this interesting though. Ruth doing what needed to be done. She and Naomi both seem to be very smart, very humble, and very courageous. They are very smart because they know their limitations, and instead of succumbing to those limitations, they have a plan to work around them and still succeed in the best possible way. They are humble, not complaining about their circumstances, or even giving in to their anger regarding the hard life they have had. They are courageous enough to know when a risk needs to be taken.

Ruth is very grateful to Boaz for allowing her to glean on his property. Boaz recognizes these traits in Ruth, her humility, and her courage. He will see her intelligence a little later in the story that I will let you read on your own. Chapter three reads as though you are watching a Hallmark movie, or maybe a little more riskier like a Lifetime movie. Either way, Ruth takes risks and knows her place as a foreign women in a patriarchal society. Boaz is smitten by her humility, her intelligence, and her courage. He wants to find out more about her.

Ruth was able to take what she needed to care for her and Naomi and connect with the right people that would take care of them both. What are your current circumstances? Are you like Ruth and needing to take risks, in a humble and smart way to do what is best for you and your family? Are you like Naomi and recognize that you are blessed by God, even if life isn’t all that grand at the moment? Or maybe you are like Boaz, and you have many blessings and life is great, but realize that you need to share your blessings. Maybe you need to be observant to those around you and take care of others needs as God has taken care of all of yours? Are you truly humble enough to be blessed and be a blessing? Are you smart enough to use the wisdom God has given you to do what needs to be done? Are you courageous enough to take risks and do things that hard and out of your comfort zone? The basic thing to remember in all of life’s questions is that God is for you and God has a plan. He will work through your circumstances to give you blessings and ways to be a blessing to others.