Daily Devotion 09/11/18
Ruth 4:8-10 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”
Boaz didn’t let the cost bother him. Instead, he willingly helped Ruth and Naomi even at great expense to him. How great of an expense? Well, in those days there was a rule for Israel that if a man dies, his brother was to marry his widow. Their first son would carry on the dead man’s name and carry on any property that he has. That way the land and the name remains in Israel. Boaz wasn’t a brother to Ruth’s dead husband, but he said he was still going to carry out this rule. Their first born son would carry on Ruth’s dead husband’s name. So what did this mean? Boaz was going to pay a lot of money for the property and land. A year from then, if Ruth and Boaz had a son, all the property would go to the son. Boaz would never see a dime from that purchase. In short, it was a terrible investment. He was just losing money. Yet, he willingly did it. Why? Because it was what Naomi and Ruth needed. This is the heart God wants us to have; a selfless heart that loves even if it means a sacrifice. May God give us the strength to love like that today.
Father in heaven, you loved me with a sacrificial love as you gave up your one and only son for me. That was a huge sacrifice you were willing to pay just for me. Thank you for your love. Help me to love like that today. Amen.