Ruth 2:1

Ruth 2:1 says, And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.  Naomi was back with her people, the nation of Israel.  There was a man that she was kin to named Boaz, and he was a wealthy man.  Verse two adds, And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.  Ruth proposed that she go glean for food, which was a common practice then.  Ruth was taking responsibility for providing for both of them.  Verse three continues, And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.  Ruth was gleaning after the reapers, and was in Boaz's field.  We might say that she was lucky that this happened, but I believe that God was blessing her by placing her there.  God is always at work in the world, even when we may not realize it or give Him credit.  Verse four states, And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.  Boaz came to the field where the workers were, and greeted them by asking that the LORD bless them, and they returned the greeting.  We need to ask God's blessing on those that we encounter each day, and we need to sincerely mean it if we do.  Verse five adds, Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?  Boaz saw Ruth gleaning in the field and asked the one over the servants who she was.  If we are to help others, we must first notice them and then find out who they are.  We may see people in need every day, but if we don't care enough to find out about them, then we are no help to them at all.  Verse six continues, And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:  The servant firsts identified her as a Moabite damsel, not even an Israelite, and then said she came back with Naomi.  When we first meet someone in need, do we first identify them by some physical characteristic, or do we simply identify them as a fellow human being of great value in God's eyes?  Verse seven says, And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.  The servant said Ruth asked permission to glean, and she had been doing so most of the day.  Ruth was dedicated to providing for Naomi and herself.  People should be willing to whatever they can that is honest to meet their needs.  Verse eight adds, Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:  Boaz told Ruth to not go anywhere else to glean, but to continue to do so in his field.  He also invited her to abide with his maidens.  We need to do as much as we can to help make life easier for those in need, especially if God has blessed us with more than enough.  I believe God will let us know what we should do if we only ask Him.  Verse nine continues, Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.  Boaz told her she would be safe and that if she was thirsty, there was water to drink.  If we put our faith in Christ, we are forever spiritually safe, and there is always Living Water to satisfy our thirst.