Why Have I Found Such Favor?
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter." So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" "The LORD bless you!" they answered. Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, "Who does that young woman belong to?" The overseer answered, "She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter."
So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field . . . Stay here with the women who work for me. . . . I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars . . . "
At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me -- a foreigner?" Ruth 2:1-10.
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" "The LORD bless you!" they answered. Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, "Who does that young woman belong to?" The overseer answered, "She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter."
So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field . . . Stay here with the women who work for me. . . . I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars . . . "
At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me -- a foreigner?" Ruth 2:1-10.
Why have I found favor in your eyes that you notice me -- a foreigner?
God has divinely plotted our lives along a desired path but we will only find favor to accomplish that desired end only if we apply certain principles to our lives. Ruth applied those principles to secure favor before Boaz.
First: Ruth had faith that she would find favor when she stepped out to glean in someone's field hence her statement: "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Ruth was expecting favor by faith before she even stepped out of the house. We must have an expectant spirit that we will find favor when we step out!
Second: Ruth took the initiative by actually stepping out to do some work that would enable her and Naomi to get some food to eat. As the Scripture says, when we open our mouths wide, God will fill it. Ruth took the initiative and God gave her favor. Favor comes not by folding our arms and sitting down, but by taking the initiative to accomplish our goals.
Third: Ruth was a very hard worker. She worked hard with hardly any breaks except to drink some water. This caused the overseer to take notice of her and give a good report to Boaz. Boaz was so impressed that he showed favor to Ruth.
So why did Ruth find such favor? She applied the principles that attract favor.
God has divinely plotted our lives along a desired path but we will only find favor to accomplish that desired end only if we apply certain principles to our lives. Ruth applied those principles to secure favor before Boaz.
First: Ruth had faith that she would find favor when she stepped out to glean in someone's field hence her statement: "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Ruth was expecting favor by faith before she even stepped out of the house. We must have an expectant spirit that we will find favor when we step out!
Second: Ruth took the initiative by actually stepping out to do some work that would enable her and Naomi to get some food to eat. As the Scripture says, when we open our mouths wide, God will fill it. Ruth took the initiative and God gave her favor. Favor comes not by folding our arms and sitting down, but by taking the initiative to accomplish our goals.
Third: Ruth was a very hard worker. She worked hard with hardly any breaks except to drink some water. This caused the overseer to take notice of her and give a good report to Boaz. Boaz was so impressed that he showed favor to Ruth.
So why did Ruth find such favor? She applied the principles that attract favor.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to apply the principles that attract your favor. Amen.