Humble, Kind, and Impartial

Verse of the day: Ruth 2:8-9, Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”

The one thing I have often observed, within Christianity, and to our shame, is the attitude that we sometimes have towards others. I have met people who were not followers of Christ, who behaved more like Christians in their attitude, then Christians themselves. Sadly, I have spoken to people who were unsaved, who, when they found out I was a follower of Jesus, immediately began to tell me stories of Christians they have encountered who had nasty attitudes and were unkind, and with that attitude tried to tell the unsaved person they needed Jesus. How do we, as God’s children, reconcile those two things? How can we be unkind, rude, and even obnoxious, and in the same breath tell the unsaved world that they need Jesus, who is kind, loving, and willing to give us something we do not deserve? Boaz was a man of wealth, and yet he did not allow his riches turn him into a prideful or snobbish man. In verse 4, Boaz’s greeting to his reapers says a lot about who he was as a man of God, “The Lord be with you!” The response from his servants also says a lot about what they thought of him as a kind master, “The Lord bless you!” Boaz was a man who did not show partiality in his attitude toward his servants. We, as followers of Jesus have been instructed to be the same way toward others. James 2:1-4 clearly says, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” Boaz was a great example and picture of Christ in his attitude, behavior, and as we will see in a later devotional, in his relationship with Ruth. We see his great kindness toward his servants and toward Ruth, a stranger amongst the Israelites. It is a kindness that is much like the kindness God shows toward us, and a kindness that we are to show toward others. Colossians 3:12-13 instructs us, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Not only was Boaz a kind man, but he was a humble man who concerned himself with the needs of others. Philippians 2:3-4 tells us, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” The bottom line is that we will do more damage and close more doors of opportunity to witness when our attitude is contrary to who we should be as Christ followers. We should be known, in our circle of influence, and amongst people we meet for the first time, as people who are humble, kind, and people who treat others with kindness regardless of their social status. In judgement and showing of mercy, grace, love, and kindness, God is not partial (Romans 2:11). If this is so, how can we justify an attitude or behavior that is contrary?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).