Boaz: The Right Man for Ruth
Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”
—Ruth 2:8–9
Boaz was a bit older than Ruth, but he had enough money to make her comfortable. Notice the qualities that you should look for, or teach your children to look for, when trying to discern the right mate. Boaz was a stable man. He wasn’t just out of prison or rehab. Nor was he lazy and unproductive.
Notice also that he was respectful of Ruth’s relatives. He gave Ruth food to take home to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz paid the bill; they didn’t “go Dutch.” These days, men don’t seem to understand how to respect a woman or show respect to her parents. Ladies, if you are dating a guy who reluctantly pays for the meal on the date but expects you to pay for the movie and the popcorn, then you’re dating a deadbeat. Take notes here, gentlemen. Boaz was a man’s man—a perceptive man, a sensitive man, a spiritual man, and a financially capable man. That’s an equation that equals a husband!
When Ruth came home loaded with food, Naomi began to teach her how to conduct herself in a proper way. When Ruth wanted to know what she should do about this man showing her romantic interest, Naomi gave her some sound advice: “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out” (Ruth 3:18). “Sit still and wait.” In other words, “Let the man pursue you; don’t pursue him.” Today, the girl would call back in thirty minutes saying, “Do you remember me, Boaz? I met you in the field.” The next morning she would be calling again. “Do you remember me? Can we go out on a date sometime?” Men lose respect for desperate women.
Sitting still and waiting is the hardest thing to do. This actually means you will have to trust God in the matter. Even if you’re camping out by the phone, waiting on him to call, don’t let him know it. Sit still and wait! Ruth could have reacted selfishly and told Naomi, “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Just because you lost your husband doesn’t mean that I’m going to lose a chance at a second one.” But she didn’t. The Bible says she respected and obeyed Naomi’s advice.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to wait on You, knowing that Your perfect timing is the only catalyst for Your perfect gift. When the going gets tough, bring influential and wise mentors like Naomi into my life to keep me focused on You. In Your name, amen.
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