The gift of simple and peaceful living

This morning as I read about Tola and Jair in Judges 10, I asked them, "Why did you only get two or three sentences about you?" I wondered, "Was their lives so simple that they did not warrant further notes?"

Oh my! I just caught something so beautiful. During a time when people did what was right in their own eyes and evil in God's eyes, there were two judges that did such a good job in leading in peace that they didnt warrant to be noted other than a footnote between evil judges. 

There is something to be said about living your life simply in love and service without being noticed. Truly, these are the men and women that make life beautiful and make the opportunity for glorious things to happen.

I found it a bit odd that for Jair it was noted that he had 30 sons, who rode 30 donkeys, and they over saw 30 territories. Do you know how wealthy he was? I once read that to own a donkey back then was a sign of wealth like owning very expensive car today. His reign must have included providing well for the people in these territories because there was no drama. 

Imagine!

These two men provided 50 years of peace and they only get 5 lines as reminders to their gift of peace.

The Bible doesn't say it, but some rabbincal scholars imply that their reign is what enabled Boaz to enjoy such wealth and prosperity. This is debated so it cant be said as a certainty, but if this is the case, I had to giggle because the argument for Jair being why Boaz was prosperous sets the stage for him to be the wealthy landowner that marries Ruth. And we all know Jesus is born through their lineage. So simplicity and faithful living can bring about heavenly opportunities.

It made me think of my Greg. He is quiet, sincere, and doesn't really draw attention to himself. He remains faithful and works hard to make sure his family is faithful. He gives where he can and gives freedom to his family to go and serve. He only asks that we honor Jesus which means we are to be people of peace. Our lives are blessed because of his quiet and faithful service. 

Don't ya just love the gift of those that just do what they know what is right to do and don't invite drama into their story! 

Thank you, Tola, Jair, and Greg Rye!

Why I want to be like Ruth

A recently widowed young foreign woman changes the trajectory of both her mother-in-law and herself by being present and doing what it takes to honor the God of her deceased husband and mother-in-law.

That is my short description of Ruth's story.

No wonder Ruth is a favorite book of the Bible for women worldwide. 

Not only was Ruth living in dark times when people chose to do whatever they wanted, but she came from a people group known for harming and not helping a foreigner.  

When Ruth said to her bitter mother-in-law, Naomi, "Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God...," one can't help but wonder if she was looking around her to see how messed up her people lived. 

When people live their lives based on what they see is best for self without considering those around them the community will always hurt. 

I imagine that Ruth's determined statement was born from the fact that Ruth knew the reality of this truth. The one person that showed her the One True God was leaving. She had observed that the One True God gives blessing through calling His people to holy living. Ruth knew she could not stay. It did not matter that Naomi was bitter. For even in Naomi's bitterness she was taking into consideration what would happen to her daughter-in-laws.  Her bitterness was better than with those that did what was right in their own eyes. 

You can't help, but respect such courage and determination. Ruth as the younger widow in that moment declared by her decision to go that she would be a present help to her mother-in-law.  It would have been the expectation that the younger person would care for the elder and since they were widows this would be taking on the man's responsibilities as provider. That is alot of responsibility.

Ruth didnt wait for life to happen. She was a strategic thinker that planned ahead by asking her mother-in-law permission if she could go get food by gleaning in the fields. She was willing to do back breaking barley and wheat gathering from what fell off as the harvesters worked. This meant she would be stooped over picking tiny grains off the ground. My back is hurting just thinking about it.

She wasted no time. As soon as they arrived in Bethlehem, she found a field and asked permission to glean and then she went to work. We are told she only took a short rest. No one could call Ruth lazy. This girl had a "get the job done" work ethic. 

When Boaz approached her and spoke kindly to her, she bowed in humbleness and admitted that she was a foreigner and a servant below his own servants. 

She recognized his favor and showed gratitude. When Boaz invited her to join his harvesters, drink his water, and eat with him, she joined in and partook until she was satisfied. But what is more amazing is she saved back some for her mother-in-law.  Her being satisfied did not stop her from thinking of others. She remained faithful and consistent in her character of serving. It wasn't a show. It was a reality of her core character. 

When Ruth returned home that night, she told her mother-in-law everything that happened that day after showing the bounty of what she gleaned. Even though she was now the provider and had a full stomach, she did not get prideful. She remained a servant acting as a covering over Naomi obediently working the harvest season until the very end. She lived out what her words said on the road between Moab and Bethlehem.

Ruth was a woman of holy excellence. No wonder women love her story. In her own right, she modeled Christlikeness in her willingness to serve and not be served. Just as Christ provides a covering over us as our suffering servant, Ruth lived out a covering over Naomi so that she found refuge. God used Ruth to be an instrument in delivering Naomi from her bitterness to position of praise and hope. Everyone needs a family member like like that in their lives.

How might God be challenging you in your life? Yes, you can be a guy and be challenged by these character traits because character at the core is not a male or female thing. Character at the core is either holy or unholy and that is not male or female. It is either right or wrong. 

I have learned that character and consistency will reveal a person's core character. You cannot hide what is inside you. It is observable. 

What character qualities are revealed by your life? If we could hear of your story, what might be told?  Would it be described as one who did what was right in their own eyes? Or would it be described as as someone who served others and considered them better than themselves as they served?

Ruth humbles me because I know I am a work in progress. She was too. I catch myself asking, "Am I acting as a love covering for _____ or am I just covering me?"

I admit that it is easier to do for some than others. 

The reality is those around us will see and we will discover that blessings will come. In serving others, we will be satisfied and able to serve them more even if it is a bitter mother-in-law or you fill in the blank ______. 

Shalom y'all.

Why I want to be like Boaz

Do you have someone in your life that just because of their very presence you are blessed? Who is that person and why?

Women the world over love the book of Ruth because of how she models the beauty of a sacrificial servant. But, more than the model of Ruth, women love all that Boaz embodies. 

I recently had a lady call out in a Bible study with my team in Uganda, "I want a Boaz!" We all laughed. Some things are worth shouting out about.

So, why is Boaz such a big deal? Well, what I noticed just in Ruth 2 blew my mind.

Boaz was a man of valor who acted knightly. He blessed his workers and the cool part was his workers blessed him back. Boaz noticed people because he was observant and asked good questions. He used that knowledge to validate people by showing he placed value in them. As a leader he protected, provided, guided and nourished the one that could not give back with an abundant of blessings. He did this in such a way the one was satisfied and then able to bless another. He was generous and safe because he willingly provided refuge and redemption.

Wozer! What a man!  

God used Boaz to move the bitter Naomi into recognizing the blessing and favor of God. 

Boaz stood out because his story happened during a time when everyone did what they wanted without consideration of others.

Boaz is a Christ like model for all to see and yes imitate. His life pointed to Jesus and what He embodied. His life makes us long for more of this type of life.

His character traits are beautiful to observe but beloved they are even better when lived out. 

Okay, I am not a guy, but the embodiment of these character traits are Christlike. Even as a woman, I can pray, let me be a woman of valor that acts graciously so that I observe and notice others to find ways to value and validate them. I can be generous, safe, and kind while seeking ways to bless so that others are satisfied and then able to bless others, too. 

Imagine our homes if we acted in such ways. Imagine our cities and nations. Things would be different.

Father, You are our Great Refuge and Redeemer. You are our safe place and the one who nourishes our souls so we can nourish others. Thank you for providing our shelter under Your wings. Father, we recognize that we cannot live out such valor apart from You. Please come and fill us up so we can live so righteously that Boaz' valor is seen and known in us. We ask this for Your glory. Not our own. We ask so that others may know Your blessing, and satisfaction so that they willingly go and bless others with what they have received.  We ask in Jesus' name, amen.

Before you think I am a posting just about a guy. Soon, I will post how Ruth points to Jesus, too.

The Boaz Blessing

Have you ever had someone verbally bless you? 

I love it when someone blesses me. There is something special about a kind word that softens the heart. It can come through a greeting, a text, a kind word, and even a kind deed. As I studied Ruth 2, I noticed something that was profound to me. Boaz was the owner of the land and as a landowner, he had workers harvesting the fields. When I think of most bosses, I do not envision them walking into the office shouting out, “The LORD bless you!” But this is exactly what Boaz did. As he approached his workers, he shouted out a blessing to them, “The LORD bless you!” and they called out a blessing to him in response, "The LORD bless you!" 

Now, Boaz didn’t just bless his workers, but as he had a conversation with the young foreign, widowed, girl that showed up to glean with his women workers, he gave her a blessing, too. But it wasn’t an ordinary blessing. 

After acknowledging Ruth’s good character Boaz said, “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” 

I honestly had to sit on this blessing for a while as I answered the question, “What do you learn about God?” I was reflecting on Boaz’s blessing and these three words repay, reward, and refuge stood out to me. 

In order to repay someone, it implies that something that was lost will be restored. 

In order to reward someone implies that something will be given that you do not already possess. 

In order to provide refuge under His wings implies that there is the intimacy of one being held close under the protective shelter of one’s strength. 

It occurred to me that Boaz recognized that the LORD was the One that can restore what was lost, give us what we don’t possess, and provide us with safe intimate refuge as our Protector. 

Keep in mind he said this to a young woman that recently lost her husband due to illness, left her home to go to a foreign land to care for her widowed mother-in-law, and left her people’s culture and gods to follow the God of Israel, the Most High God. How little did he know that his blessing her would open the door for him to become the answer not just for her but for the whole nation of Israel and the world. 

Boaz became her husband and the father of their son, Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse. Jesse became the father of King David and King David was the grandfather of Jesus. Boaz not only provided the intimate protection that gave her refuge that was safe and secure, but he restored what was lost in her husband and gave her more in a son. 

Not every blessing we give will have such profound outcomes, but when we give a blessing, it implies that there is something to give. We must take note that the blessing comes from the LORD. He alone is the Giver of all good things even if we may become a part of the solution or answer to the blessing in time. The good gift is from Him alone. 

Some might hold back in giving blessings for fear they may have to sacrifice as part of the solution, but we must remember that if we hold back in giving the blessing then we might miss out on the greater good that will come. 

What if we all gave Boaz’s blessing to one another? 

May the LORD repay you for what you have done. 

May the LORD richly reward you. 

May the LORD give you refuge under His wings. 

Please know that it is my heart's cry over you right now! May the LORD bless you so you can go and be a blessing! 

Shalom, y’all! 

(The Ruth 2 Storyboard was created by Alice Swartz! She created it during our study and then blessed me by sharing it with me!)