The book of Ruth in the Bible is an anthology of love and forgiveness. First, I will tell you the summary of the story from the Bible, and then I will talk about the morals of this story. This popular book of the Bible is a story of how Ruth came to be an ancestor of King David. This short and concise book of Ruth, also known as the “Book of Ruth” or “Ruth,” is full of stories illustrating different aspects of God’s character. Ruth’s loyalty and steadfastness can stand as an example to us all, but her willingness to listen to and obey God illustrates her steadfast faithfulness, trust, and love for God. May we all learn from this familiar story in the Bible.
While Ruth’s story is unique, her devotion and loyalty are pertinent to our daily lives. Here we glean 13 moral lessons from Ruth’s story.
The story of Ruth is one of the most moving in the Bible.
Ruth was a young Moabite woman who, along with her mother-in-law Naomi, traveled from Bethlehem to the land of Israel. During their journey, Ruth met Boaz, a wealthy landowner. The two eventually married, and when Ruth’s husband died, she could claim his estate as her own.
When Ruth was widowed, Naomi advised her to marry Boaz (Ruth 3:1). Ruth did so, but she did not want to remarry until she had children (Ruth 4:13). After they were married, Boaz told Ruth that he would buy back some land that belonged to Naomi’s family (Ruth 4:1-12). This was done so that Ruth could inherit the property after Boaz died.
The story of Ruth shows how God often works through ordinary people who are willing to obey him.
Moral of the story of Ruth in the Bible
The Bible’s story of Ruth has many truths that are still relevant today. It’s a story about faith and good morals. Her story can teach us how to learn lessons from our own daily lives and apply them in ways that will lead us towards our purpose. Here are the morals of the story of Ruth in the Bible,
No One is Unimportant to God
Ruth shows us that everyone matters to God, even if they do not appear to be necessary to others.
If you think about it, there’s nothing special about Ruth. She is even a Moabite, a woman who is not a covenant people. Ruth is not wealthy. She is not in any position. She is not well-known. She didn’t come from a wealthy household.
Ruth may have been a nobody in society’s eyes. Ruth, on the other hand, was someone in God’s eyes. Similarly, you are precious. Because you are God’s very creation, He is concerned about you. So don’t forget that God loves you, no matter who you are or where you are right now.
Ruth teaches us that no matter what has happened in our past or how tough our circumstances maybe, a little faith may make a big difference. And even in our obscurity and the chaos of our life, God finds a way to utilize the most unexpected people in ways we could never have imagined.
Value Great Character
Value great character for a good reputation is earned, not given to you.
Proverbs 22:1 tells us:
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
When no one is looking, your character is who you are. Ruth went above and above what a daughter-in-law should be. She paid tribute to her bitter and grieving mother-in-law by working long and physically exhausting days in the field to feed herself and Naomi.
Ruth was also a significant character as Boaz’s wife. Ruth was a woman of noble character in whatever she did, and God blessed her and subsequent generations for her remarkable portrayal of the essence.
When Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, they were hungry. Ruth requested Naomi for permission to go to the field and glean heads of grain at that time. Ruth ends up gleaning in Boaz’s occupation as a result of God’s provision and intervention. Boaz observed Ruth and invited her to stay in his field.
“It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before”
Ruth 2:11
Ruth earned an excellent name for herself as a result of her actions. The benefit of having a good character is that it offers up many chances. Create a good feeling so that by the end of your life, people will remember you for your good reputation rather than your fortune.
Hard work
An important Moral of the story of Ruth in the Bible was Hard work. She was desperate to find job. In Ruth 2:2, we read,
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”
It didn’t take her long to reach a neighboring field and begin gleaning as she walked. Ruth worked hard, and the field manager or foreman noted her work ethic. He went to the fields’ owner, Boaz, and told him how hard she worked and how many hours she put in.
Even after being recognized and favored by Boaz, she didn’t become lazy as most ladies would have stopped working knowing that at the end of the day, their needs would be fulfilled. She continued to work and worked harder and longer than anyone else.
Redemption is For Everyone
Another Moral of the story of Ruth is that redemption is for everyone. Redemption is a gift from God offered to all regardless of your background our sinful past.
Ruth had less than most of us and had been through heartbreaking tragedies in her life, yet she trusted that God could. Ruth had no reason to believe she had earned anything, but she trusted God to take care of her and her mother-in-law.
In the book of Ruth, we see Boaz as a redeemer– relatives Redeemer. Boaz redeemed Ruth, but years later, Jesus would become the “redeemer” for mankind.
The Impact of our Decisions
The moral of the story of Ruth undeniably shows the impact of our decisions. The decisions we make can affect even our generation’s unborn.
Ruth decided to accompany Naomi. She decided to glean in the fields. Ruth chose to lie down at Boaz’s feet. She decided to marry him.
They had a child, a son named Obed, who later became the father of Jesse, who later became the father of David, who, as we know, is in the direct family line of Jesus Christ! that is descended directly from Christ Jesus.
Ruth’s decisions many years ago touched the lives of millions of people. How amazing to see how the bravery and commitment of a young woman would later meet a guy who would help bring Jesus Christ’s family lines into fulfillment.
Never underestimate the power of your decisions, commitment, humility, and integrity. Think about your daily choices. Choose your path with prayer. God may be using today’s modest decision to influence a generation!
Humility
The topic of humility is not widely discussed nowadays. Yet, Ruth demonstrated great humility by leaving everything behind to accompany Naomi, a woman who would have been rejected on their return and left without someone else to turn to.
She is willing to take tremendous measures to care for her mother-in-law, even acting as a servant for her family. Ruth demonstrated humility by following every command given to her by her mother-in-law. She asked no questions and quietly followed God’s lead.
Though her life was not always easy, she never gave up hope in the face of adversity. God blessed her humility.
The most important lesson from this story is that God understands exactly what He is doing. Though we may not always grasp His will, it is never concealed from us. We must be patient and trust God without complaint to carry out His will in our lives.
Following God requires outstanding commitment
Another moral we realized in the story of Ruth is that following God requires excellent commitment. When Ruth decided to follow her mother-in-law, she promised to worship Naomi’s God. (Ruth 1:16-17)
Ruth1:18 says;
“When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.”
At that moment, she decided to stay loyal to her commitment. She answered the call of God and stayed true to her duty.
Although Ruth knew that hardship would be what she would face, she was determined, courageous, and brave to accept her fate to follow Naomi, thereby following God. Instead of worrying about her personal needs and marital prospects, she fulfilled her commitment to Naomi.
When you commit, whether it’s to help in your church or to a marriage covenant, stick to it.
Conclusion
The story of Ruth is not only relevant today, but it is also a parable that can help everyone in their daily life. We can see from Ruth’s life that she is an excellent example of trusting God in all circumstances. And when we let God lead us down the route he has chosen for us, and we will discover peace and satisfaction.
