12 SEPTEMBER

SHE ASKED TO WORK

“And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house. (Ruth 2:7, NKJV)

Ruth, the Moabitess asked her Jewish mother–in–law, Naomi, to allow her go and work in the fields and bring in food for both of them. She might have come from an affluent family and married into the then wealthy family of Naomi and Elimelech but they had lost all the men in the family to death. She had insisted on returning with Naomi from Moab–her own home–to Israel, a land foreign to her, with nothing.

According to the testimony in our verse for today, Ruth took the initiative and worked faithfully and diligently, even though the task was menial, tiring and maybe degrading for someone of her status. In return, God not only rewarded her faithfulness with food, clothing, shelter as well as a husband, but also elevated her to the privileged position of being one of the five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus.

Sometimes when we have a need, in addition to our prayers, God may just be waiting for us to take an initiative to work, no matter how menial the job may seem.

I have noticed that those who have less are more reluctant to work hard to gain more. Let us follow Ruth’s example. Obedience may open new doors of opportunity.

ACTION: Show initiative, diligence and faithfulness to get you to where God wants you to be.

PRAYER: Strengthen me, Lord, to be diligent and hardworking, while waiting for the manifestation of your blessings upon my life.