A Story about Kindness

Ruth is a great narrative about how kindness is played out in the lives of three individuals; Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. Ruth is a Moabite (Gentile or non Jew) who had married a Hebrew. The setting is during the days of the Judges and it was a time when there was a famine in the land. Resources, including food, were scarce. As the beginning of the book of Ruth reveals, her husband dies and leaves her as a widow. But she remained close to her mother-in-law (Naomi), her late husband’s mother. It is time for Naomi to return from Moab to go back to her own country. Ruth wants to return with her, although she is not a Hebrew. She does this out of friendship to her mother-in-law. Of course, Naomi tries to talk her out of it but Ruth’s loyalty would not bend. So they end up going back to Bethlehem. They were poor. Once there, Ruth goes to gather barley and grain from the fields, as it was harvest time. She happens upon the fields of a rich Hebrew man named Boaz. Boaz was a distant relative of Naomi and Ruth’s late husband. And what we see take place at this point of the story is a beautiful picture of God’s providence come into play. There are a lot more details that could be conveyed here, but in short, Boaz ends up marrying Ruth, and she bears him a son, who ultimately turns out to be the grandfather of King David.

There are some great lessons to learn from this story:

• Loyalty and commitment to God as well as toward those we love
• Faith and trust in God
• Rest from hardship. God is indeed our refuge
• The value of doing our best to stay true to God’s commands
  

Another lesson that I think is important in this story is the value of kindness. First, we learn it from Ruth in how she wanted to be there with her mother-in-law. In fact, Ruth’s very name is a Hebrew term that means “friend.” Kindness is a desire to be there for someone else, genuinely because their best interest is at heart, and not our own selfish motives. Once in Bethlehem, she even went to the fields to gather the grain so her mother-in-law wouldn’t have to do it. Throughout all of this, it is clear that Naomi not only recognized Ruth’s kindness, but was prayerful that God would deal with Ruth (and her other daughter-in-law) kindly also:

“But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go, return each of you to her mother’s house, May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.’"(Ruth 1:8)

We also learn about kindness from Boaz, in how he dealt with Ruth. He didn’t keep her from taking from his fields. In fact, he encouraged it by instructing his workers to allow it. Ruth thanked him for his kindness. In celebration, Naomi gave all glory to God by acknowledging His kindness for the good deeds of Boaz:

“And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!’” (Ruth 2:20).

In a lot of ways, the lesson teaches us that our kindness can only lead to kindness being demonstrated toward us. Notice the words of Boaz to Ruth:

“And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich’” (Ruth 3:10).

Boaz goes on to tell her that as a near kinsmen (or redeemer) he will look into marrying her so long as a nearer kinsman does not claim her first. This is an example of how putting God first allows for good things to happen in our lives (Matthew 6:33).

I doubt there is much arguing as to how kindly God has dealt with us when we are so undeserving. But the challenge for us now is how kind have we dealt with others? Even toward the ones with whom we are associated that may not deserve it. The New Testament is replete with exhortations for us to be a kind people.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive” (Colossians 3:12-13).

The term for kindness that we see here means not only doing serviceable and good things for others, but also denotes graciousness and pleasantness on the part of the one doing the good deed. Are we a pleasant people to be around due to our kindness? Have we made this a priority? Is this a way that those who are not Christians are able to identify us as God’s family?

In talking about the kindness of the Father, Jesus gives us a good working definition of it:

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35).

If we are expected to demonstrate such kindness toward our enemy, then surely we must be able to see the charge for us to exercise this toward one another as brethren.

Thank you for reading!