A Person Of Character

Ruth 2.1-12

Being a person of character.

Boaz noticed Ruth, but the thing that really drew him to her was her character. It takes character to notice it in someone else.

Virtue is overlooked too much, way too much. In this day of makeovers and the ability to change appearances through elective surgery, a word need to be given regarding he heart and soul of people.

True beauty and attractiveness is within. The heart and soul of a person matter more than outward looks which are fleeting.

Look at the qualities of one of only two women who had a Book of the Bible named after them.

1. How She Responded to Tragedy. v.11
Nothing tests a character like suffering.
Torture a man and you will find out what is in him. Until that happens you really do not know. Ruth lost her husband. She didn't become bitter. She had a big heart.
Avoiding bitterness is not easy. It is fraught with dangers. It means not allowing many things to find a place in our hearts.
It means replacing these bad thoughts with good ones.

Naomi, opposite of Ruth went from being "Pleasant" and ""Sweet" to wanting to be called "Mara" which means "Bitter". Both lost their husbands. Naomi did lose more but in choosing to give up her family, Ruth's losses were great.

She responded to tragedy by being concerned about the people in need in her life.

Be careful what you read, who you listen to.

She responded to personal tragedy with hope and faith in God. She looked for the new beginning. The LORD does have a way of bringing about new beginnings after tragic ends in our lives. For Ruth and Naomi, God had a plan and although the present was difficult, the future was going to be wonder filled.

When Sennacherib came against Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 32:8 "He only has men, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” The people were encouraged by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.


2. How She Responded to Those in Need in Her Life. v.11b

Didn't abandon them.
Didn't ignore them.
Loved them and serve them.

Ruth had a sensitive heart and was selfless in her commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Ruth worked hard for her mother-in-law. She was thankful for the ability to provide for her.

Ruth could have returned home like her sister-in-law, Orpah. No one would have faulted her for that, in fact they would have expected it. A person of character goes beyond those things. A person of character goes beyond what is expected.
Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Going the extra mile, pressing the limits.

Mary and her alabaster jar of pure nard is an example of this. It is the same spirit of Ruth in going to Bethlehem and taking care of Naomi.
Boaz commended her for this. The whole town of Bethlehem was abuzz with what she had done.

She didn't do it for that reason. Oft times secret things get out. This was a selfless act on Ruth's part.

3. How She Sacrificed For Those Loved Including the LORD. v.11c
She left her father and mother. This was not easy.
Jesus spoke of this.
She left her homeland.
Missionary spirit
She came to live with people she didn't know.

Ruth 2:11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before."

I read some years ago of a survey they did among men. They found out that the number one thing a man was attracted to in a woman was her concern for others.

I believe one of the reasons we are given these accounts in the Word of God is to not only show us the Hand of God in the lives of these people but also to show us the Christlike character that they had. Ruth left her home to come to a place where life would be difficult. She did it selflessly. She gave up everything for Naomi. Out in the fields of Boaz for the barley and wheat harvest she lived as a pauper at first.

We will do well to emulate the things she is commended for.

Ruth had an exceptional character. Her traits were well noted by Boaz.
I love how he blesses her in verse 12.

Peter writes to us:
2 Peter 1:3-11 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Continue to grow in Christlike Character.