Then Ruth said, "I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoke kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants." - Ruth 2:13
Kindness is a GREAT way to display the image of Christ to others.
This week we're looking at practical tips to be kinder to others and ourselves. One of the first definitions of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is that it is kind. God wants us to walk in kindness towards others (both saved and not saved) and to ourselves. When we do this, we are walking in the Fruits of the Spirit and showing that God's Spirit dwells in us!
1. Serve Others Even When You Don't Feel Like It
"And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, 'Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.'" - Ruth 2:2
Ruth humbled herself to serve (and meet) her mother-in-law's needs. She did not feel entitled to Naomi to meet her needs but lowered herself to serve her mother-in-law, even though she was a foreigner in the land.
Even when we feel uncomfortable, we still should serve others. Let's guard ourselves from thinking we're entitled to them to serve us. Ruth and Naomi went back to their Naomi's hometown, but Ruth understood that her mother-in-law was not well enough to work.
Let's be mindful of others' conditions and not only desire our wants or needs.
2. Do Not Complain About People
"So Ruth set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech" - Ruth 2:3
Rather than grumble about the suffering endurance Ruth had experienced from traveling and having to work, she focused on what needed to be done and kept her mouth shut. Complaining about others (and ourselves) shows that we are not content with a situation.
Ruth refused to complain about her mother-in-law or her manual labor, proving the kindness she had towards Naomi and even herself.
3. Listen to What Others Say
"Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.'" - Ruth 2:8-9
Ruth did not grow defensive to Boaz's instructions but honored his knowledge and authority over the field and servants. When we fail to listen to others, we hinder our kindness towards them.
Listen when others speak and honor their authority.
4. Do Not Judge Others
"But Boaz answered her, 'All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before." - Ruth 2:11
Rather than judge her based on rumors, Boaz sought the truth about Ruth and let that determine how he saw her.
Kindness means NOT allowing gossip or rumors to infiltrate our thoughts about a person.
5. Encourage Instead of Envy
"'The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!'" - Ruth 2:12
Boaz did not envy Ruth's acts of service towards her mother-in-law but encouraged her in the faith to keep going.
We have to remember that the goal in the body of Christ is to encourage, empower, and edify, NOT condemn, criticize, or counteract!
6. Generously Provide
And at mealtime, Boaz said to her, 'Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.' So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over." - Ruth 2:14
Boaz gave to Ruth freely and without restraint. Christ does this for us. Do we do this with others? Or are we stingy with our possessions, food, and clothes?
Wouldn't it be amazing if we always gave based on who needed what; instead, of holding back what God has blessed us with?
7. Bless Others With Your Words
"And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, 'May he (Boaz) be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!'" - Ruth 2:20
Our words hold a lot of weight, so let's use them to speak life over people and not death. Talking nicely about others can create a positive chain reaction in people and help us keep seeing the good and forget/forgive the bad.
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