Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman"
Who is a virtuous woman? If you ask this question to any man or woman, without hesitation or thought they will quickly reply by referring you to Proverbs 31. Indeed a virtuous woman is defined in Proverbs 31; however, Ruth is an example of who/what a virtuous woman really is. MEN: Keep reading because just as we, as women, need to know how to exhibit the characteristics of a virtuous woman you, as men, need to know how to recognize those characteristics.
So what makes Ruth a virtuous woman? Ruth exhibits loyalty, commitment, kindness, character, and integrity. Ruth's life can easily be paralleled with the definition given in the book of Proverbs. A woman like Ruth, who leaves her family to go to a foreign land with her mother-in-law, is rare and priceless vs. 10. This must have been a characteristic that her husband saw in her when he married her (vs.11) thus the reason he left his mother in her care. In present day women can barely tolerate their mother-in-law for a weekend WHILE their husband is present. It is highly doubtful they'll care for her when their husband has passed away. This act alone can easily qualify Ruth as a virtuous woman, but there's more. Verse 12 says "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life" did you catch that? All the days of HER life! That means before she met him, while she was with him, and now that he has passed away. While his life has ended Ruth knows that she still has a duty to her husband ALL the days of her life, which in this case is being there to care for his mother. When thinking in terms of marriage remember, God created this man just for you and from him God created you; therefore, you are always a reflection of him. Show him respect by respecting yourself and do good to him by doing good to yourself.
When Naomi and Ruth reached their destination Ruth went straight to work (in a foreign land) to survive and provide for herself and her mother-in-law vs.13-20. We generally skipped or rush over the fact that the virtuous woman doesn't start at the top. She is a woman that has respectfully worked her way to the top. It was Ruth's work ethic that got Boaz's attention, not her body nor her beauty. He praised her for her faithfulness, kindness, and selflessness towards her mother-in-law and in return showing her favor.
None of what Ruth did was for a reward. Everything she did was out of the kindness of her heart and honoring her late husband. It's amazing how God rewards those who aren't expecting anything for their submission, obedience, love and work. Ruth stayed true to who she was by exhibiting all the characteristics of a virtuous woman and because of this Boaz had no problem making her his wife or "putting a ring on it" as we so often say. He recognized the rare jewel she was only because she carried and presented herself as such. Ruth didn't let her situation change her character instead her character changed her situation. She was faithful to Naomi and in turn God was faithful to her. While our situations may be totally different from Ruth's we can definitely find ways to incorporate and exhibit these characteristics is our life. Essentially these characteristics are the fruits of the spirit from Galatians 5. So, ladies if you're not like her get like her and men if you find one like her keep her!
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