Ruth 4: Long-Term Consequences

"Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife.  When he was intimate with her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son."

Ruth 4:13

If Ruth had done as her sister-in-law and gone back to her own family after her husband's death, she would have likely spent the rest of her life bathed in insignificance.  Instead, she was so devoted to Naomi that she was taken as part of the redemption which Boaz bought to carry on the estate and name of Elimelech (Naomi's husband).  Because of this, she became the great-grandmother of King David, and in doing so took her place in the lineage of the future Savior, Jesus.

Question of the Day:

How do you react when you see a good, wholesome, devoted person in need?  Do you mistreat her, ignore her, or step in and redeem her?  What are the long-term consequences of your decisions, both good and bad?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, create in me a giving heart - one which is always willing to redeem people back into Your family.  Do not let my heart be hardened or distracted when I see a person in need, but rather let me reach out and give whatever aid You call me to give.  Amen.