How should the rich and poor treat one another? In modern America, those who have less often resent and sometimes even hate those who are wealthier, assuming that any of their gains must somehow have been ill-gotten. In contrast, those who have more are all too often indifferent to the plight of the poor, preferring to live in different school districts or behind walled enclosures, assuming that poverty is merely a result of poor choices.

But today’s passage shows us that there is a way out of this standoff. For instead of envy or hate, Ruth demonstrates humility. In verse 7, she asks to be allowed to glean in the fields, instead of demanding her right to do so according to God’s Law (see Deuteronomy 24:17-22). And she makes no claim on Boaz’ kindness, admitting that she is a foreigner.

And instead of resenting Boaz for his wealth, Ruth simply devotes herself to whatever work she can find, however ill-paying or menial. Gleaners had to spend the whole day stooping down or kneeling, picking up stray heads of grain that had fallen on the ground, or even scavenging for individual grains of barley. But however back-breaking such work might have been, Ruth threw herself into it, starting as early as she could and only stopping for short breaks (v. 7). And her hard work paid off – by the end of the day, she had gathered enough to make bread for her and Naomi for several days.

And part of the reason her work was so productive was Boaz’ kindness and consideration. He made sure she had enough water to drink, and that she would be protected from harm, even though she wasn’t working for him (v. 9). Later on in the passage, we find that he invited her to have lunch with his workers, and went so far as to tell them to leave some extra grain for her to find, in addition to that which would have fallen from the sheaves accidentally (v. 16). Boaz thus gave up a little bit of his profit in order that Ruth’s work might be more productive.

But perhaps more importantly was the way he treated Ruth with dignity and respect. Instead of berating her for being poor, he admired her work ethic, and praised her willingness to provide for her mother-in-law (v. 11). Instead of looking down on her Moabite ancestry, he honored her desire to leave her own pagan people and come into the land of Israel, thus making a decision to worship the One True God (v. 12). And he blessed her in the name of the Lord.

And of course both Ruth and Boaz were demonstrating the character of Christ, weren’t they? For didn’t Jesus do the hardest work of all to help others, humbling Himself by going to the cross? And didn’t Jesus treat all of us with grace, giving us what we need instead of what we deserve, and even adopting us into His family?

So, no matter how much or how little we may have, let’s break out of the cycle of envy and indifference, working as hard as we can, and helping those in need today.

Ruth 2:4-13 (ESV)

4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.”
5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
8 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.
9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.”
10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.
12 The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”