Working For Food

Working for Food

Q: In whose field did Ruth gather leftover grain?

• a. Boaz’s
• b. Samuel’s
• c. Gideon’s

Have you seen people standing by the road holding signs that say, “Will Work for Food”? While some of them may be willing to work for food, many are hoping people will just give them money. Ruth was not like that. She was a willing worker.

It was harvesttime when Ruth and Naomi arrived in Naomi’s hometown (see yesterday’s devotion). During the harvest, reapers would cut down the wheat and barley stalks and tie them into bundles. The grain that was dropped was then left on the ground for the poor to gather. This was called gleaning.

In order to support herself and Naomi, Ruth went to glean grain. She wasn’t reluctant to work in order to have food. Ruth went to a field owned by Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, her deceased husband’s father.

When Boaz saw Ruth’s good attitude and hard work, he told her not to go to any other field, but to glean only in his field. He promised she’d be safe, and he shared his food and water with her.

Boaz was drawn to Ruth’s positive attitude and strong work ethic. Ruth noticed the good reputation Boaz had with his workers. His good character was evident in the way he treated others. Ruth and Boaz were married, and their descendants are well known in the Bible. You’ll read more about them in the next devotion.

Ruth was willing to work for what she needed, and she did it with a positive attitude. Others noticed, and she had a good reputation because of it.

For You

Be willing to work for what you want without complaining, and others will notice your hard work, just as Boaz noticed Ruth’s. It’s much better to have a reputation as an energetic worker than as a whiner or complainer.

Answer: a

Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.   Ruth 2:3

(The Whole Story: Ruth 2)