Thoughts in Ruth part two

The Following is a guest article written by Emily Anderson. Emily is a member at Wazeecha and has two theological degrees, one from The Baptist University of Florida and the other from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. We are grateful for her expertise in the Old Testament book of Ruth which she shares with us: 
Though the individual who best exhibited love in the first chapter of Ruth was
undeniably Ruth herself, the individual who arguably exhibited love best in chapter
two is none other than Boaz. “As it happens,” throughout the second chapter, we
see Boaz’ godly character fuel his ability to exude love. Chapter two highlights
how Boaz not only leads with love, but how every aspect of his life reflects a
legacy building type of love. This is evident in every recorded interaction that
Boaz has with others. Through this close look at Boaz’ interactions with others, we
see six attributes of legacy building love.
1. Someone who exhibits legacy building love is one whose speech and actions
are richly seasoned with kindness and thoughtfulness. We see this displayed
in Boaz’ initial exchange with his employees. Coming in from Bethlehem,
Boaz greets his employees by speaking blessing over them (v. 4); which
means that, upon returning to his portion of the field, the first words out of
his mouth were blessings to those that the Lord has put under his charge.
Why? Because legacy building love seeks to bless others through speech that
is flavored with kindness.
2. Someone who exhibits legacy building love is one who is attentive to others
and their situations. This truth is seen clearly in how Boaz’ first question –
after greeting his employees – is in regards to Ruth – the new woman
gleaning in his portion of the field. This reveals Boaz’ attentiveness because
only someone who had been paying careful attention to not only his field but
who gleaned in it would recognize that someone new was present. Also,
although it is imperative to never say something of Scripture that it is not
stating, I wonder if how Boaz phrases his inquiry about Ruth also speaks
volumes about his character and compassion toward others. Instead of
asking who she is Boaz asks, “Whose young woman is this?” (v. 5). I
believe that maybe Boaz asked in this manner in order to gain an
understanding of her situation and whether or not this new woman gleaning
in his field was part of a community or not.
3. Someone who exhibits legacy building love is one who desires to protect,
care, and provide for others. This beautiful truth is seen in how Boaz
responds to the revelation that the new woman gleaning in his field is the
same woman that has been talked about throughout town (chapter 1 v. 19 &
chapter 2 v. 6) – who sojourned with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem from

Moab. Upon receiving this information, Boaz immediately tells Ruth to stay
in his field and glean so that she can remain safe from harassment (v. 8) and
so that he could continue to ensure not only her safety, but also provide
ample provisions for her as she gleaned (vv. 15-16).
4. Someone who exhibits legacy building love is one who sees people
holistically. This timeless truth is reflected in how Boaz’ responds to Ruth
questioning the reason behind his profound kindness toward her (v.10). Ruth
could not comprehend how a Jewish man could see her as anything more
than a Moabite or foreigner. Boaz simply explains that he knows of
everything that she has sacrificed in order to care for her mother-in-law
(such as leaving her home, her family, her people, and everything she has
ever known for a foreign land of which she had only heard of). In other
words, Ruth asks why Boaz is kind to her a mere foreigner and Boaz’ reply
is that a mere foreigner is not all he sees. When Boaz sees Ruth, he sees
more than her ethnicity and origin story. He sees her character. He sees her
love. He sees her devotedness. He sees her kindness. He sees her
compassion. He sees her resilience. He sees her bravery. He sees her
strength. He sees her new found faith in the God of Israel. Boaz tells Ruth he
sees her whole story because Boaz sees all of her, and in seeing all of her,
Boaz sees someone that he strongly desires to bless lavishly and
continuously.
5. Someone who exhibits legacy building love is one who recognizes legacy
building love in others. Once the truth of who Ruth was, was revealed to
Boaz, he realized that the woman who was before him was the same woman
whose story of strength, faith, and love was being shared throughout the
town. When Boaz heard of Ruth, he knew that she was one who was
building a legacy of love. He knew because he, too, was doing so. Why?
Because legacy building love recognizes legacy building love in others.
Ruth’s love and strength of character were clear to Boaz because he was
intimately familiar with those same life-affirming and life-enriching
attributes.
6. Someone who exhibits legacy building love is one who is generous with
love and constantly strives to live out kindness and compassion in one’s
blessing of others. Boaz could have easily just blessed Ruth lavishly at their

initial meeting, but Boaz takes it upon himself to continuously bless her
lavishly (vv. 15-16). By caring for Ruth in this way, Boaz exemplifies the
importance of blessing others not only once, but seeking out ways to
implement the rich blessing of others into our daily lives, even and
especially in ways in which they are not privy.

Although all of these six attributes of someone building a legacy of love are
crucial, I have to admit that the fourth one – seeing people holistically – is my
favorite. This attribute is my favorite for several reasons but mostly because I can’t
help but think of how the Lord – in His sovereignty – had Boaz be a descendant of
Rahab – a foreigner and a former prostitute. It always makes me smile when I
picture Ruth’s bafflement in how Boaz could she beyond her ethnicity and origin.
Little did she know that this same Boaz who was standing before her was a
descendant of another foreigner who was also grafted into the people of God. Little
did either of them know, that they both would be a part of the lineage of the
Messiah, Christ the Lord – the single, greatest legacy of love builder that ever did,
does, and ever will live.