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Handfuls on Purpose

by Jerry Ousley  
1/08/2016 / Christian Living


When our children were growing up, especially when they were young, when we'd play games with them we would let them win on purpose. I'm certain that you've done that as well. When someone finds out that they are the winner because someone let them win there are two possible reactions; some don't care how they won. If you let them win then they view it as your loss. They wanted to win no matter what. Then there are those (and I think most of the population falls into this group) who don't want to win by false pretenses. If they haven't deserved the win then they don't want it. It doesn't feel like a victory if you haven't earned it by your own skill and talent.

Early in our marriage Deb and I were playing games one evening. I was on a winning streak and it seemed I couldn't lose. I could tell that she was getting frustrated so the next round I purposely made mistakes so that she would win. She was elated that my winning streak had come to an end, that is until she discovered that I had let her win. Man, I wish I had just kept on winning because I certainly paid for that. That was the last time I pulled that stunt.

On the other hand I do understand why she became angry when she found out that I let her win. I wouldn't like that either. I want to win because I deserved to win, not because someone felt sorry for me and rigged the game.

In a way that's what Boaz did. It happened (and I don't believe that most things just happen God orchestrates) that Ruth was gleaning in his field. She had no idea that he was a near relative to Naomi and that he had the power and the resources to buy back (the Bible uses the word Redeem) the land she had lost. Ruth was just trying to get enough grain to feed her and Naomi. When Boaz spotted the young woman gleaning in his field he immediately asked his servants who she was. They told him that she was a Moabite and had returned with Naomi. God was even then putting together a plan. You can read the full story in the short four-chapter Book of Ruth.

In chapter 2 we read that Boaz was captivated by her. He asked her to glean in his fields only and gave her special favors like eating with him and his servants, and drinking from the water supply of his servants. He also told his servants to allow some of the heads of grain to fall on purpose where she was gleaning.

To make a long story short, Boaz ended up marrying Ruth. Naomi got her land back and all lived happily ever after. But there's another twist to this story. She became the great, great grandmother of none other than David and ultimately she is found in the lineage of Christ.

This story serves as an encouragement to me. You see, when we serve the Lord and do it not just in word but in our deeds as well, it doesn't mean that we'll never have to work again but we can rest assured that God is going to take care of us. It was the Lord who orchestrated the meeting of Boaz and Ruth. It was God who impressed upon this wealthy man to allow her to glean in his fields and purposely leave grain for her to glean. It was God who put it in the heart of Boaz to redeem the property of Naomi and God purposely placed the foreigner, Ruth, into the lineage of Jesus Christ.

It didn't mean that Ruth didn't have to work. She worked and worked hard. Her job was lightened a little by the extra grain the reapers left at the command of Boaz. You see, she worked but God blessed her efforts and her labor.

And He will do it for us as well. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we wouldn't ever have to work again. In fact Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." That's pretty straight forward if you ask me. We will most likely have to work, but God will give us work and will let handfuls fall on purpose.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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