Hand in Hand: Protective Kindness If you’re new to Lifpoint | Worthington, take 30 seconds to fill out our Welcome Card! Have a question about today's message? Ask it here. Scripture: Ruth 2:1-12 (ESV) Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan 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 after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 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. 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.” 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. 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.” 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?” 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. 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!” Series Recap The Choice: Last week, we saw Ruth make a stunning decision to stay with Naomi, despite having the right to leave. Hesed: We learned that Hesed is a love with a backbone. Action: This kind of kindness is not just an emotion; it is a kindness that moves to our hands. The Practice of Gleaning A Safety Net for the Vulnerable Ruth and Naomi are back in Bethlehem, but they are without husbands or advocates. God built a safety net into Israel's laws called Gleaning. The command in Deuteronomy 24 was for harvesters to be inefficient on purpose. This allowed vulnerable people to work for their food with dignity. The Fear of Exposure Ruth isn't just working hard; she is exposed. She is one bad interaction away from ruin, carrying the fear of being seen. We experience this today as Imposter Syndrome. “If they really knew me… they wouldn't let me stay in this field.” Boaz: The Worthy Man Going Beyond Duty Boaz is described as a man of valor (godly character). He fulfills God's law by letting her glean, but his Hesed compels him to go farther. He creates a “Safe Zone” and ensures her needs are met, treating her not as a servant, but as a guest. The Theology of Wings Boaz prays that Ruth would be rewarded by the God under whose wings she sought refuge. The Irony: Boaz asks God to take care of her, but Boaz is the one writing the check. Boaz realizes that God's hand of protection is often experienced through the hands of His people. Often, God doesn't send a miracle; He sends a person. The Trap of Virtue Signaling Looking the Part We want to be the “Safe Person” like Boaz, but we are tempted to settle for sounding like him. Spiritual Virtue Signaling: Using religious language to signal we care without bearing the cost. Often, “I'm praying for you” is a spiritual way of saying, "I hope someone else fixes this." James 2:16: "If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" Have a question or pushback on this? Ask it here. The Gospel Connection The Identity Shift We want to be Boaz, but the truth we hide is that spiritually, we are Ruth. We are the ones who are spiritually exposed and hungry. God did not just send a message from heaven; He sent a Man. Jesus as the Ultimate Boaz Boaz treated the symptoms (hunger), but Jesus came to cure the disease (Sin). Jesus entered the field of our brokenness and stretched out His arms to create a refuge. Because the King has covered us, the performance is over. Have a question or pushback on this? Ask it here. Application: Opening Our Hands From Overflow, Not Performance You cannot be Boaz until you admit that you are Ruth. You cannot offer refuge to others until you have found refuge yourself. We do not have the capacity to be Boaz for everyone. The Challenge Don't try to save the world; look for one opportunity to let God answer a prayer through you. Is it possible that the “unanswered prayer” of someone in your life is actually just your un-opened hand? As always, if you'd like to talk more with me about anything we discussed, you can sign up for meeting time. 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