Today's Reading: Ruth 2

 

When the Lord Repays You

Boaz, a very wealthy man and Elimelech’s relative, saw Ruth working in his fields and said to her, “I’ve heard all about you—heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to...

live among a bunch of total strangers.” 

Boaz had heard of Ruth’s kindness to Naomi and looked for ways to reward her. He gave her food and drink, protected her from the local youths, and made sure that the reapers deliberately left extra grain for her to pick up.  But, as generous as this was, it didn’t seem like enough of a reward to Boaz. So, he goes one step further and says, “The Lord repay you and give you a full reward.”  By his words, Boaz is acknowledging that God alone can adequately reward Ruth for the kindness and loyalty she has shown.  There is way more blessing from the hand of God than from any human hand.

God promises to reward His children for their faith and faithful service to Him. We are exhorted in Scripture to work heartily for the Lord “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” (Colossians 3:24).  When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back.  And God’s checkbook is bigger than yours.  Even the smallest acts of kindness and love will be repaid by God.  Jesus said, “if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." (Matthew 10:42)  In fact, when we give away our life; we’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing.  Jesus said, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

Boaz recognized that even with his considerable wealth there’s no way he could reward Ruth adequately for her actions.  So he calls on God’s wealth, knowing that is vast and immeasurable. God’s repayment doesn’t always come in the form we expect, nor does it always come in this lifetime.  But be certain of this… EVERY tiny act of faith and service you do in the name of the Lord WILL BE rewarded by God – in this life or in eternity – in such vast measures that you cannot even imagine.

“Behold your God!  Look at Him!  When He returns in power and glory, He will pay back His enemies for their evil, and will REWARD all those who have loved Him.” (Paraphrase of Isaiah 40:10)