by John O’Malley
“And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field” (Ruth 2:22).
Naomi and Ruth found the priceless contentment that comes from being in God’s will. It was the hand of God that had seen them both through the days of departures and difficulties, diseases and death, discouragement and depletion. Now the hand of God exchanged those for return and rest, recovery and rejuvenation, rejoicing and re-supply.
Like most women’s hearts, Naomi found great delight in seeing two people find the path that leads to lifelong happiness with each other. Naomi was not the matchmaker for Boaz and Ruth; she was merely an encourager to the participants. The matchmaker for the Messiah’s line was God Himself. He arranged the events that brought the couple’s hearts together. They found each other in the same field of service. No one brings people together like God.
Naomi’s endearment and excitement became a time of education for Ruth. Carefully she sought to instruct Ruth about serving with a kinsman, staying with his workers, and keeping separate from the distractions of other fields. Naomi knew what was going on was far broader and went much deeper than two people whose hearts had been drawn to each other. This was the hand of God working all things together for the good.
Naomi knew Boaz's acceptance of and affection for Ruth merited faithfulness in return. Ruth’s instruction from Naomi is worthy of consideration. “Stick with his maidens and stay in his fields,” paraphrases Naomi’s instruction to Ruth. The implication from her instruction indicates that a level of shame would mar her for seeking satisfaction in any other field with anyone else’s fellowship.
What a simple life lesson for the believer today! Those who are adopted by our Eternal Boaz should follow the same instructions. Stay in the fellowship of those who are His workers and serve only in the fields of the Eternal Boaz. Many “Ruths” today seem to be glad to be in the family, but find it an imposition to be in the fellowship of His workers and serving the field He assigns.
If you are His child and struggle with faithfulness in your attendance to His house and accepting responsibility for His house, than you must heed Naomi’s instruction to Ruth. “It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.”
Are you in fellowship with people who are not in association with the Eternal Boaz? Are you in a field of your own making and not His assignment? When you are His child, you should be with His people in His field.