Over and Beyond

Good Morning.  How many of us are willing to go over and beyond for the ones we love?  Over and beyond on a job where we feel unappreciated?  Over and beyond in private when you do something for others with no recognition?  Over and beyond when you benefit nothing from your actions?  Not many because in society today, it seems like no one wants to do anything without some type of recognition. 

In Ruth 2, Ruth and Naomi are now in Bethlehem, the home of Naomi.  If you have read the story, you know Naomi’s husband and three sons are now dead.  The other two daughter-in-law’s have returned to their homeland except Ruth.  Ruth follows Naomi. She tells Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17 (NLT), “But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. ¹⁷ Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

Wow!  What a declaration on Ruth’s part.  Now mind you, Ruth is in a foreign land where she doesn’t know anyone but Naomi.  She has no way to support herself.  What I like about Ruth is she didn’t rely on Naomi.  She made the decision to follow Naomi, so she had to do what she had to do.  Ruth goes to the fields to glean the grain after the harvesters.  During that time, the law dictated the corners of the fields are not harvested.  Also, any grain that was dropped, would be left for the widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor.

One day Boaz comes to the fields to check on the harvesters.  He notices Ruth gleaning the grain.  He asked the harvesters who she was.  Please go back and read the full story.  It will be too much for this post.  I feel like Ruth went over and beyond.  Ruth could have chosen to go home, but she didn’t want to leave Naomi.  She knew Naomi needed her even when Naomi tried to push her away.  She loved Naomi just that much.  Ruth was willing to go into the fields to help provide for herself and Naomi.  She knew there was a possibility she could be ridiculed, yet and still, she went anyway.  Ruth did not let her pride get in the way. 

What has the Lord been prompting you to do lately?  Are you willing to go over and beyond for him?  For someone else?  Even for yourself?  When I say for yourself, I mean do you love yourself enough to make sure that you are taking care of mind, body, and spirit.  Just something to think about.  Have a Blessed Day!