Ruth 2:6 – 7 “The foreman replied, “She is a Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”
Do you get the feeling this foreman may have been trying to discourage his master? “She is a Moabitess,” he answered. Everyone knew that Jews didn’t like Moabites. “She is a beggar,” he continued. But the more he talked about this woman, the more attractive she became. The truth of her character came shining through.
Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Ruth had done nothing wrong; she had done everything right. She was loyal. She was faithful. She was hardworking. And no matter what this foreman said about her, he couldn’t disguise the beauty of her character.
Nothing in scripture indicates that Ruth was accustomed to this type of labor. Yet, she did what needed to be done, and she did it without complaint. Many times, we view certain tasks as beneath us, or as unworthy of our skills. But sometimes, ya just gotta do what ya gotta do.
When faced with an undesirable situation, our attitude toward that situation will paint a detailed portrait of our character. We will either face each task with quiet dignity and determined perseverance, or we will complain and grumble and procrastinate. And all the while, others will be watching us, and gathering data. They will draw their conclusions about what it means to be a child of God, based on how we respond to whatever life throws at us.
Ruth was a beautiful woman, no doubt. But more importantly, she had a beautiful character. Ruth’s character was discovered when she thought no one was watching. In the same way, our reputations are often determined not in the spotlight, but in the shadows.
Dear Father, Please help me to live for You even when I think no one is watching. Please show me how to have a good name.
Amen
thanks for the reminder to be faithful in what God has called me to do–without complaining–and in the shadows! i needed that!