Daily Devotion 09/10/18
Ruth 4:5-6 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”
6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”
In 1200BC women didn’t work. Naomi and Ruth’s husbands died leaving them land and property. Because they couldn’t work the land, they would need to sell it to have money to support themselves. It was custom that a male blood relative could purchase the land and work it for the widows until they passed away. Then the land would become the male relative’s. Boaz asked this blood relative if he wanted to buy the property, which he did…until he found out he’d have to marry Ruth, as well. He began to count the cost, and the cost was too high. He didn’t want to help out that badly. The thing is, I can relate to that guy. Can you? How many times do we have an opportunity to help somebody but we pass on it because we count the cost and it is just too high? “It’ll cost more than I want to spend. It’ll take too much of my time. I’ll have to make small talk for too long. It’ll be so awkward.” So we pass on helping. Today I urge you to repent. Ask God for forgiveness for being stingy; I will be, too. But then trust that he forgives you. He does because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Then look for someone you can help today. Give someone hope as you help them without counting the cost.
Heavenly Father, thank you for always being willing to help me in my time of need. You know what I need every day and you fulfill every one of them. Be with me today. Help me to recognize what people need and help me provide. Amen.