Motivated – Part 5
Ruth 2
Niceness: polite, agreeable and pleasing, creating pleasant interactions.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22–23 (p.893)
Kindness: a deliberate, Spirit-led act that mirrors God’s redemption.
- Don’t Just Feel Good, Do Good. (Sometimes At A Cost.)
“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” Luke 6:31 (p.786)
“…It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (p.849)
Boaz in the book of Ruth (Kinsman Redeemer)
- Move toward needs.
“…Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her. And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time!” Ruth 2:15-16 (p.209)
“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” Philippians 2:4 (p.900)
- Speak the truth in love.
“I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don’t want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you.” Ruth 4:4 (p.210)
“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” Ephesians 4:15 (p.897)
- Be willing to be misunderstood.
“…You are witnesses today that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. And with the property I have acquired Ruth the Moabite…as my wife” Ruth 4:9-10 (p.210)
“…Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” Mark 2:17 (p.762)
My Next Step This Week: Watch the Bible Project Summary of Ruth.