Devotional Series: The Crown Within the Cross
Lessons from the book and life of Ruth- A faithful God
In my current season of life, 2 Timothy 2:13 has become particularly pointed to me “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, he cannot deny Himself” or as another translation puts it, “If we are unfaithful or faithless, he remains faithful to us”. This verse speaks of the faithfulness of God that is unchanging, unmoveable, impregnable. Independent of my many failings, my slights of His love, my waywardness or anything else I can do, His faithfulness to me during all the twists and turns of life, will remain constant. In the darkness or in the light, in the valley or on the mountaintop, in the summer and in the winter, through thick and thin, ride or die, He is a faithful God. That is just who He is, faithfulness is just how He operates. Whilst the verse speaks of the amazingness of God, it also highlights the ugliness of self, that so often does not respond with the same level of faithfulness, loyalty and commitment to Him who loves us so much. Thank God, that this is not the only verse in scripture! Thank God that this very faithfulness is exactly what Jesus wants to impute and impart to us so that during these last days, we can demonstrate faithfulness to Him who has forever been faithful to us (Revelation 14:12, Galatians 3:22). As we are told in Hebrews, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Another way to look at this verse is that faith is the very reason and means in which and by which, we can believe in the very things we cannot physically see. Faith itself, is only faith when it is based on the Word of God (Romans 10:17, Galatians 3:2). Since the Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any twoedged sword (Hebrews 4:12), true faith is not only founded on this Word, but is reliant on this very same Word to bring whatever it is that is hoped for, into fruition. The living Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14) Jesus Christ, is the only One we can depend on, the One who demonstrated when He first came to earth, what it means to depend on the Word of God and the power of His Father, to live a life of faith, a life of faithfulness. 
Living a life of faith, a life of faithfulness, is simultaneous with the lifetime work of sanctification. It’s a journey we take with Jesus that He intends for us to travel on till our very last breath. In taking this journey of faith, we will often face reroutes, road blocks, diversions. We may be taken down those lonely narrow country lanes, busy city streets as well as experiencing the thrill of carefree driving on the highways, but it’s all part of not just the journey of faith, but our OWN personal journey with Jesus. Although Ruth stepped out in faith in not only declaring her commitment and loyalty but physically taking her lot with Naomi back to Bethlehem, her journey had only just begun. She did not know what lay ahead, what else she would encounter, what further sacrifices, losses and trials she had yet to face, all she knew was that whatever it would be, she would be all in, 100% committed to whatever that looked like. “All she knew was that whatever it would be, she would be all in, 100% committed to whatever that looked like. ”
This bold, courageous decision was not without the possibility of going through challenges, working through uncomfortable situations and complex array of feelings. Experiencing trials is not the gauge to determine the rightness of your decision. Neither is the absence of trials the rubber stamp of approval from Heaven. The only reliable gauge comes from the Word and the workings of the Holy Spirit. Nowhere in scripture are we told that God came to Ruth and told her to stick with Naomi. However, given the further information of the character of Ruth demonstrated in the latter chapters of Ruth, she clearly had her own personal walk of faith with the Lord, that no doubt would have impressed her to make this sort of commitment. If we really think about it, Ruth really made a WILD decision, one where she probably did not have the support from either family or friends. She was probably seen as a traitor in leaving her family, her country, her heritage and choosing a life that seemed to pose so many questions. She herself did not know the outcome and so, could not spurt out some eloquent, convincing speech to relay to others. All she had was God, her experience with Him and what she knew and saw of Naomi. 
“The only reliable gauge comes from the Word and the workings of the Holy Spirit. ”
Although they both entered Bethlehem as widowers, Naomi at least returned as a welcomed native whilst Ruth came as a foreigner. A Moabite by birth, she was essentially, an outsider, an outcast and stranger in a foreign land. The lot fell on her, to provide and support for herself and aged mother in law, Naomi.Ruth 2:1-3
And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
As two single women, with little position, wealth or status, their position was most precarious. Despite being vulnerable to the exploits of plotting men, open to the threat of mistreatment, abuse and manipulation by those seeking to prey and lure the innocent, coupled with the fact that Ruth was an outsider and stranger, God had already provided a means to supply their needs, moved upon hearts and graced them with His favour. From the days of Israel’s wilderness wonderings, God had ordained and commanded His people to take special means to care for the poor, widows, strangers and orphans. Aside from the command to tithe from the first fruits of their increase for the upkeep of the officiants of the Tabernacle service, they were to also leave the corners of the fields and vineyards unharvested for the poorest and most vulnerable to glean (Leviticus 19:9-10, Leviticus 23:22, Deuteronomy 24:14,15,18-22). 
Ruth 2:3-7
3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
Faithful to her work, Ruth was also wise, hardworking and diligent. In gleaning after the regular reapers had harvested their portion, she was working circumspectly. In working long hours, she evidenced the strength of her character. Whilst the ability to carry heavy loads, and work through the heat of the sun or the coolness of the eventide is obviously not the perquisite required from us in order to be considered strong or faithful, the underlying principle is that of willingness and perseverance that characterised her conduct. At this point in her life, her work was to provide and sustain for her household through, harvesting from the field. For you, it may be that right now God has called you to finish your studies, start a new business ministry, go to medical missionary school, take that new job opening or to reduce your hours to work for Him or to raise your new or growing family. Whatever it is, however that looks like, that is between you and God. However, whatever stage of life you’re in whether it be a temporary transition, or a permanent prospect, faithfulness is the goal to be reached. “Faithfulness is the goal to be reached. ”
As is so often the case in life, the times we think nobody is watching us, is the exact time where our character is being observed. I have too many experiences in my own personal life where I found this to be true. Fairly recently at work, I worked with a colleague who had noticed me from something I did years ago that I virtually had forgotten! In Ruth’s case, she was already seen and known and recognised as the “Moabitsh damsel”. In the eyes of the servants of the field, all they saw was that “Moabitish damsel”, a surface superficial understanding of who she was. Whereas, to Boaz she was affectionately endeared as “my daughter” (verse 8). Not everyone will see past the externals, the basics. Their voices and opinions need not be the loudest voice in your ears nor leave the biggest impression on your mind. Value, worth and identity are all things that no human can either bestow or diminish. God knows how to bring the right people into your life, those who see your true worth and see past the labels plastered on by others. “Value, worth and identity are all things that no human can either bestow or diminish. ”
Ruth 2: 11-13
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
Above we see that the sacrifice and seeming risk Ruth took in following the plan God had for her life in staying loyal and devoted to Naomi’s welfare above her own, had not only been recognised of heaven but realised by man. Boaz understood the depth of her character, through diligently studying it at the very time Ruth thought she was unnoticed. He appreciated and acknowledged the beauty nobody else apparently saw. The fact that she left her father and mother and all that was familiar to her, to follow the leading of God was highlighted. Through this act, he saw how her steadfastness to God was demonstrated and the journey she had begun in making the God of Naomi her own God. He recognised that Ruth had “come to trust…the Lord God of Israel” for herself, through the process of test and trial and it was that, coupled with her faithfulness in harvesting from his field, that drew him to her. Her beauty shone the brightest because of who she had grown to be and the journey she was on with the Lord. 
“Her beauty shone the brightest because of who she had grown to be and the journey she was on with the Lord. ”
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Whilst the book of Ruth is clearly one that highlights the beauty of a deep long lasting, tested love that sprung from the unexpected place of suffering and loss, it’s those very characteristics that makes their story shine the brightest. Their story is most beautiful because of the backdrop of difficulties and sadness that came before. Ruth had to go and grow through difficulties to further appreciate what God would provide her with in the future. Her story was her story, not picture perfect or textbook ready. In the eyes of men, it seemed plagued with many challenges that could cause them to doubt the leading of God. Yet, we know through faiths eyes that all of it was perfectly used by God. He has a way of bringing from ashes a crown of beauty and in exchange for mourning the oil of gladness, whilst weeping may endure for a night joy comes in the morning (Isaiah 61:3, Psalm 30:5). God’s faithfulness to us throughout our lives journey, requires us to fight the good and worthy fight of faith, to keep going when all we want to do is give up and give in, but when we remember His faithfulness, we can find the strength to keep going. Though we may find ourselves like Ruth, misunderstood, rejected by many, marginalised, overlooked, in the view of Heaven we are always seen, our life is meticulously studied and under the watchful care of a faithful God. So even if you’re in a hard season right now, it is not the end, God is not done with you I promise. Whether you need the wise counsellor friend like that of Naomi or that of the kind, protector like figure like Boaz who later became Ruth’s closest companion and dearest friend, He is a forever faithful friend. 