Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Ruth 2:3-4 So she [Ruth] 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. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, "The LORD be with you!" And they answered, "The LORD bless you."
BOAZ, A MODEL EMPLOYER
While Ruth went into her field of labor, a man also came to that field. His name was Boaz, and he was the owner of the field. Boaz too was a good and faithful worker. Perhaps there is no better picture in the Bible than Boaz of a model, God-fearing employer. Look at the things he did when he arrived on the scene:
He prayed for his harvesters, greeting them with the words, "The LORD be with you!" He asked his foreman about Ruth, an obvious foreigner, who was gleaning in his field. Having learned of her situation, he showed exceptional kindness to her.
What kind of employer would do such things? Show such kindness and love to the humblest of workers? Boaz was an employer who knew what the LORD had done for him. Not only had God given Boaz material blessing in his life, but he had made Boaz aware of the blessings that awaited him in the life to come. Boaz surely trusted in the Savior of the world whom God was going to send. He surely knew that as wealthy as he was, he could not buy his way into heaven. He had found refuge in the forgiveness of sins and the Christ who made him clean before God. Boaz' trust in the true God was obvious the moment he set foot in his field.
Do you work as an employer? Do you have people under you who labor for you? If you are not an employer in connection with your regular job, perhaps you are an overseer at home. Do you have children who do chores for you? People whom you hire to do things around your house or in your yard? How do you treat those who work for you?
