Now Jesus didn't teach the neglect of self - you can't "love your neighbour as yourself" if you don't in a real sense love yourself! But the focus of our life needs to shift to put the love of God first - central to our whole being - and then to love others on an equal footing to ourselves.
Years ago in Stanthorpe, I was visiting just prior to an election. I happened on two members discussing politics. It was a friendly conversation, even though the two were obviously on opposite sides of the political fence. Finally, one said to the other, "You know - I don't think anyone can fix the problems of this country unless they can do something about human greed."
Strikingly true! Does our country need a G.S.T. (a goods and services tax)? We answer that question by asking, "How is it going to affect me?" Should Australia become a Republic? At one level, I don't think the issue is very basic to our identity as a country one way or another. But then, we have a daughter and son-in-law living in the United Kingdom at the moment - how might it affect our family?
I am not suggesting it is wrong to look at how such decisions could affect us - in a sense that is the primary way we can begin to assess their affect on others. The problem is that this is symptomatic of our whole way of viewing life - all our thought and decision-making revolves around ourselves and we don't get round to considering others!
Listen to what Jesus said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you…" (KJV). To give the quote in full from the Good News, "Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands - all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you" (Lk. 6.38).
Do you believe that? Are you ready for it?
On the other side we see Ruth, the Moabite widow. Naomi's tragedy has been her tragedy too. But she has come through to a significant turning-point in her life and to a remarkable commitment - "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" (1.16). Ruth has put her trust in the Lord and is living out that faith in practical action.
In today's reading we hear Boaz saying to her, "I have heard about everything that you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband died. I know how you left your father and mother and your own country and how you came to live among a people you had never known before. May the Lord reward you for what you have done. May you have a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection!" (2.11-12)
That's a striking phrase - "the Lord God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection" (more literally, "under whose wings you have come to take refuge" as in NASB and NIV).
Naomi is bemoaning her pitiful and needy state, but Ruth is the one who moves into action. "Let me go to the fields to gather the corn that the harvest workers leave. I am sure to find someone who will let me work with him" (v. 2).
Leviticus 19.9-10 gave specific instructions, "When you harvest your fields, do not cut the corn at the edges of the fields, and do not go back to cut the ears of corn that were left. Do not go back through your vineyard to gather the grapes that were missed or to pick up the grapes that have fallen; leave them for poor people and foreigners. I am the Lord your God" (also 23.22).
That was provision for the poor, but not an easy provision - a great deal of sweat went into it. But Ruth was committed and the generous provision of her love and practical commitment began to spark hope in Naomi - "Go ahead, my daughter."
Boaz was a man of deep and practical faith. When he greeted his workers, "The Lord be with you" and they responded "The Lord bless you" (v. 4b), it wasn't some superficial formality. Here was a faith which led into action, a motivation for practical care and generosity.
Other Bethlehem landowners and their workers were all Israelites too but Ruth's physical safety mightn't be guaranteed elsewhere (vv. 9,22).
Boaz went far beyond the requirements of the Law in ensuring a generous provision for Ruth - with protection, easy gleaning, plus food and water.
Yes, with her whole heart she can wish the blessing of God on such a man, but not yet for herself. In the back of her mind she still believes herself under God's judgment.
It was the field belonging to a man called Boaz. Now hear Naomi begin to change - "May the Lord bless Boaz!" Naomi exclaimed. "The Lord always keeps his promises to the living and the dead" (v. 20a).
Here is the Lord's generous provision. Boaz had said to Ruth, "May you have a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection!" And now even Naomi is beginning to see that the Lord is at work for good for her too. As we were commenting last week, God cares - no matter what!
Through the generous provision of Ruth and of Boaz, Naomi needed to see the Lord's generous provision for them all.
Are you willing to be a person through whom God's generous provision can reach someone else? And if you yourself seem to be swamped by trials and sorrows, please look up and look out, God may be trying to reach you through someone else's care right now. Come to him and let him rebuild your life - forgiving what is wrong and healing what is broken.
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