Affection and the Experience of Value

Synopsis     Ruth 2:8-15     8/2/2018

Boaz was a wealthy relative of Elimelech. Upon Naomi and Ruth’s return from Moab, Ruth gleaned in one of Boaz’s fields. He noticed her because of her hard work.

Because Boaz had heard of Ruth’s faithfulness and kindness to Naomi, he blessed her with favor amongst the gleaners. He gave her food to eat and allowed her to eat with his workers. Boaz spoke kind words to Ruth and she was encouraged.

The Beginning of Something

Boaz had heard about Ruth. He had heard about the faithfully devoted Moabite woman who maintained solidarity through hardship. And, he was intrigued. He wanted to know more.

Then, there she was. In his field with the gleaners was the faithful woman that had all of Bethlehem buzzing. So, he watched her work. And she was everything he imagined. She was more than he imagined.

He spoke kindly to her and offered her protection and a good return on her labor. Then, he shared his own food with her. And, he communicated his deep appreciation for her remarkable faithfulness to Naomi.

The Experience of Value and Affection

We so often talk about value as if it were merely, or essentially, about money. So we say, “money saved on a purchase” is a good value. Or, a highly skilled tradesman creates value through his industry.

But, I forget in all these other uses of the word, the very essence of value. I experience value viscerally. I feel value. We all feel value.

This is the fundamental experience. All other understandings of value are pinned to this foundational notion.

That’s not to say that what I think of something makes it valuable. Not at all. I misvalue more things than I properly appreciate. Still, the value of things and of people is intrinsic to the things and to the people. God the Creator has invested value in all created things.

Yet, I say it again, I experience value viscerally.

So, the trick is to see things from God’s perspective. The trick is to experience the value that God invested, rather than to experience the relatively inferior value that I can extract from the things I encounter around me.

Boaz experienced Ruth in the purity of her virtue. And, he loved her for the strength of her character long before it occurred to him that she might be his partner in life.

O Lord, give me the eyes of Boaz.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” Isaiah 52:7