Ruth 2:1-3

KIND AND CONSIDERATE

When God provided for his people by giving them the Old Testament laws, he made sure to provide for poor people and foreigners as well. One of those laws instructed farmers not to reap the edges of their fields, and also not to go back and pick up what they dropped while harvesting. This allowed people without other means of support to come and pick up what they needed. This was called gleaning. (You can read one example of this law in Leviticus 19:9-10.)

Ruth knew that it would be difficult for Naomi to go out and glean. Naomi was not a young woman any longer and the work would be tedious, hot, and exhausting. Also, Naomi had been a woman of standing before the famine. She might be uncomfortable going out to scrounge for food among the fields of her acquaintances. Ruth tactfully volunteers to do the work that would support both women in such a way that would permit Naomi to retain her dignity.

We see Ruth's kindness in the way that she was so considerate of Naomi, but we also see her kindness in her willingness to work (and to work in a situation where she had to swallow some pride) to provide not only for herself but also for her mother-in-law.

Being considerate and kind toward others are certainly ways that our faith in Christ will express itself. These fruits of faith show our gratitude for the kindness that Jesus showed us by coming to earth to serve us as our Savior.
 
"As it turned out" the field where Ruth started gleaning belonged to Boaz. This was not a coincidence. This took place according to the plan of God. As we continue our study, we will learn why.