By Ryan Casselberry with assistance from Generous Giving staff
The book of Ruth is a compelling story of God’s extraordinary provision for those who trust him, whether rich or poor. Ruth in her poverty was not disappointed when she fully trusted the Lord for provision and security, and Boaz in his wealth was blessed through extraordinary generosity and divestment of his material possessions for the sake of others. Ruth’s trust and Boaz’s generosity are tremendous examples to us today because they illustrate how God’s commands about generosity are not cold requirements—rather, they are in place to drive us to cheerful giving that trusts the Lord as our refuge and provider in all things and desires first to provide for the needs of others.
Our study of Ruth consists of two parts. In the first section, readers will find our stewardship study notes. These notes analyze, in a passage-by-passage fashion, the implications of the book’s teaching for Christian generosity and related issues. The second section consists of short essays describing the book’s major stewardship themes. These notes and essays are not intended to be comprehensive explanations of the author’s goals in writing this book, nor do they exhaust the book’s possible applications in matters related to stewardship and generosity.
While Generous Giving’s Bible study material will aid anyone who is searching the Scriptures for guidance, they may prove especially useful as sermon helps for pastors and as a resource for teachers, advisors and lay leaders interested in obeying and teaching the message of Scripture in matters of generosity and stewardship. We readily acknowledge our fallibility in writing these study notes, for they are the work of humans, not God. Please search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11) as you read this material critically, carefully and prayerfully. May God bless you in your studies.
Passage-by-Passage Study Notes
Ruth 1:3-5 — The next thing we are told is that Elimelech and his sons both die, and we see that their best plan for their own provision results in the total impoverishment of Elimelech’s family: his wife, Naomi, and her Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. It is difficult to overstate how serious a matter this was: In ancient times, being a widow without a son or family was totally devastating since the extended family was the first and primary place she would go to find security and provision. A widow did not have the means to work the land on her own. This was especially the case for Naomi, an older widow who would be less able to gain another husband. Even worse, Naomi was an alien in Moab, which compounded her social isolation and vulnerability. In terms of poverty and helplessness, Naomi’s situation was the worst possible scenario for someone living in Old Testament times. See Ruth theme essay Caring for the Poor.
Ruth 1:6-14 — Naomi hears that the Lord has provided food in Israel and decides to return to his provision. Orpah turns around and go home, but Ruth clings to Naomi (Ruth 1:14), taking upon herself Naomi’s drastic plight. Like Abraham and Rahab before her (who are both honored for their faith in Hebrews 11), Ruth had to completely leave behind her old lifestyle in order to follow God (Genesis 12:1-9; Joshua 2:8-13). Ruth’s commitment to leave behind her old ways to follow the God of Israel exemplifies the kind of radical change for which Jesus would later call during his earthly ministry (Mark 8:34-38). Note, however, that Ruth’s leaving behind her old ways is only half of the story: She also consciously took up God’s law and adopted his people as her own (Ruth 1:16). This change of direction for Ruth included adopting God’s views of money and possessions from his law. It ought not to surprise us that we as Christians must do the same. Have we changed our orientation about possessions, trusting God with it all, or are we hesitant to follow him totally with our finances? See Ruth theme essay Trusting in God’s Providence.
Ruth 1:15-18 (Key Passage) — First Loyalties: Naomi again tries to persuade Ruth to follow Orpah, who went back “to her people and her gods” (Ruth 1:15). Although Ruth could doubtless return to more favorable circumstances, she instead sacrificially commits to living out her life with Naomi and adopting Naomi’s people and God as her own. We ought to be careful to not judge Orpah too quickly, for she was after all obeying Naomi in returning to her family, where she could find security. But it is in this light that Ruth’s behavior is seen to be all the more extraordinary. Although she had every legitimate reason to leave Naomi, she did not and, from the very beginning, makes huge sacrifices so that the God of Israel would be her God. Ruth puts herself entirely in God’s hands, following her mother-in-law back to God’s land and provision, rather than staying in Moab—which apparently did not have a famine, and where she could have found a Moabite husband. When we reflect on our own faith, do we believe that sacrificing our own security might be necessary to truly follow him? Also noteworthy is Ruth’s commitment to her mother-in-law, who has no other person to care for her. Sometimes those in need are resistant to our help and even may suggest that we leave them alone in misery and loneliness, as Naomi did with her daughters-in-law. But like Ruth, our passion for God and concern for those in need may lead us to let love and faithfulness override the resistance of the person in need. See notes on James 1:27 and 1 Timothy 5:6, 8 and Ruth theme essays Giving at Personal Cost and Trusting in God’s Providence.
Ruth 1:20-21 — Although Naomi had left Bethlehem full, she returns from Moab empty, afflicted and bitter. God can take us to rock bottom financially, but we still know that he will provide in the end, as he does for Naomi (Ruth 4:13-15).
Ruth 1:22-2:9 (Key Passage) — Personal Generosity to the Poor: Ruth and Naomi arrive in Bethlehem as the harvest begins, with no time to establish crops to provide for themselves. Ruth immediately resolves to use the mode of provision that God had provided to the poor and the aliens in the law—she joins the harvesters in the fields and collects the extra that was left behind specifically for the poor and the aliens. She happens to do this in the field of Boaz, Elimelech’s relative. Boaz serves as a stark contrast to Israel’s general lawlessness under the judges—not only does he uphold the minimum requirements of God’s law to provide for the poor and the aliens by leaving the margins of his field unharvested (Leviticus 19:9; 23:22), but he also goes beyond this by explicitly telling Ruth to return to his field again and to find provision and protection from harm there. Ruth, a foreigner and young widow without food, would have been an easy target for wicked men, but Boaz provided the provision and protection she needed. Boaz’s giving exemplifies the purposefulness and delight in true Christian giving, where the giver is glad to give for the sake of others (1 Thessalonians 2:8). When we give, do we usually give the required minimum, refusing to get involved in the complicated needs of the poor around us, or do we follow the example of Boaz, who was willing to develop a relationship that probably would be a consistent drain on his resources? See Ruth theme essays Caring for the Poor, Giving at Personal Cost and Trusting in God’s Providence.
Ruth 2:10-18 (Key Passage) — Extraordinary Generosity: When Ruth asked Boaz why she received such favor, he praised Ruth for all that she had done for Naomi and for taking refuge in the Lord. Ruth is not just a passive beneficiary of God and Boaz’s generosity—she is being rewarded for her faithfulness. In response to Ruth’s generosity toward Naomi, Boaz continued to give above and beyond what would have been mandated by the law. He gave her a meal, and secretly ordered his workers to leave behind extra grain for her to take up when they where harvesting. This resulted in Ruth’s having plenty, able to provide both for herself and for Naomi. God will take care of us even if we impoverish ourselves (as Ruth did) in the process of caring for others. Like Boaz, we who have much are given the opportunity to be Christ’s tools to bring security and provision to those in need. When the Lord provides for us abundantly, are we willing to use our wealth to provide for others and to bring thanksgiving to God, as Boaz did (2 Corinthians 9:11)? After all, God is the source and receives the glory for all good gifts—including possessions and even our own generosity (James 1:17; Matthew 7:11; see note on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 and 9:11-15). See Ruth theme essays Caring for the Poor, Giving at Personal Cost and Trusting in God’s Providence.
Ruth 2:19-23 — Naomi found out that Ruth gleaned in the field of Boaz, Elimelech’s relative, and immediately recognizes Boaz’s generosity and kindness to both the living and the dead. Boaz’s generosity does not run out: It continues as he allows Ruth to harvest near his own servant girls through two harvests. See Ruth theme essay Giving at Personal Cost.
Ruth 3:7-13 — Ruth goes to the threshing floor where Boaz is sleeping and follows Naomi’s instructions, laying down at his feet. When Boaz wakes, she asks for him to spread the corner of his garment over her. Commentators point out that this request was similar to language in the Old Testament where God hides Israel under his wing, indicating that Ruth’s request was not simply an odd question regarding clothing but, rather, that it was a profound request for permanent provision and refuge. Despite Ruth’s forwardness, Boaz responds graciously, commending her for her faithfulness to Naomi and promising to use his position to bring Ruth the security of the “kinsman-redeemer”. The kinsman-redeemer was provided for in the law (Leviticus 25:25-28) so that the poor and dispossessed could have family members help them regain property that was lost due to financial disaster. But for Ruth, security was not simply a matter of possessing property, but it was primarily a matter of having a secure social position as a married woman. As a Moabite widow, she never could have gained security herself. Boaz recognizes this and promises to redeem her, granting her social position and security, if the nearest kinsman-redeemer would not. In addition, it is interesting to see that this whole affair was not just a matter of Ruth’s finding security, but it was also about Ruth and Boaz’s recognizing each other’s faithfulness toward God. When we pursue companions in ministry—whether in marriage or otherwise—are we looking primarily for people who will join us and inspire us to faithfulness with our money and possessions? See Ruth theme essays Giving at Personal Cost, Caring for the Poor and Trusting in God’s Providence.
Ruth 3:15 — Boaz does not forget to be generous in the simple things in addition to greater things—he sends Ruth away with barley in an amount beyond what she would have needed. Boaz shows evidence of having the gift of giving from God, and he exercises this gift faithfully and generously (Romans 12:8). Each member of the body of Christ has been given gifts for the benefit of the whole body; are we faithful servants who utilize these gifts to the best of our abilities, or do we neglect them because of fear and self-concern (Romans 12:4-8; Matthew 25:14-30)? See Ruth theme essays Giving at Personal Cost and Trusting in God’s Providence.
Ruth 4:1-8 (Key Passage) — Hesitant Redeemer: The very next morning, Boaz goes to the city gate immediately to meet with the town elders. The city gate was the traditional place where the city elders would gather together to see after matters of local governance, including contractual matters such as the duties of the kinsman-redeemer. When Boaz finds Naomi and Ruth’s nearest kinsman-redeemer, the man who is first in line before him is initially glad to purchase Noami’s property. But when he hears that it comes with the cost of taking Naomi and Ruth into his family so that Elimelech’s name might be preserved with the land, he declines because it would be too expensive for him to surrender the property to any descendent of Ruth in the next year of jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-22). Commentators point out that this man’s name is purposefully not recorded, as the author finds this behavior so shameful that his name does not even deserve mention. Are we like this man, exercising generosity for the sake of receiving more back? When being generous, do we to expect sacrifice, risk and loss, gladly absorbing whatever losses come as a consequence? We ought never to forget that we have the perfect example of sacrificial generosity in Jesus, who became poor on our behalf, sacrificing everything so that we might become rich in his grace (2 Corinthians 8:9). See also note on Luke 14:12-14. See Ruth theme essays Giving at Personal Cost and Trusting in God’s Providence.
Ruth 4:9-12 (Key Passage) — Kinsman-Redeemer: Although the nearest kinsman-redeemer (see Leviticus 25:25-28) was afraid of the personal costs of restoring Naomi and Ruth to their property and social standing, Boaz without hesitation purchases Naomi’s land, providing her with financial assets, and marries Ruth, committing to her provision permanently and providing for the continuation of Elimelech’s line. Further, as Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, Boaz not only provided for Ruth’s long-term security, but he also provided for that of Naomi, who was absorbed into the family since she was Ruth’s mother-in-law, Elimelech’s widow, and also without a family. As suggested by the behavior of the first kinsman-redeemer, this action was not of small cost to Boaz. Boaz’s action as kinsman-redeemer foreshadows Jesus’ behavior as our redeemer, who pays the cost for our sins, adopts us into his family, and gives us security forever. Are we thankful enough for God’s gracious provision in Christ that we are willing to sacrifice what we have to participate in the redemption of others in spiritual and physical need, even at great cost to ourselves (Colossians 1:24)? See Ruth theme essays Caring for the Poor, Giving at Personal Cost and Trusting in God’s Providence.
Ruth 4:13-22 — We read that the Lord gives Ruth a son, an ancestor of David. The foreshadowing at the very close of this book underscores the greatness of the Lord’s provision not only to Ruth and Naomi individually, but also to Israel and the whole human race. David would be the great king of Israel who was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) and the ancestor of the Messiah, who would save men from their sins (Psalm 130:7-8; Matthew 1:21). The story ends with the great promise of God’s provision for his people. Ruth would not live to see her full reward—the coming of Messiah from her own line—but this is so often the case. The Lord blesses the generous with rewards beyond what they can see or imagine in this present life. See Ruth theme essay Trusting in God’s Providence.
