DEVOTION: Thursday - Truly abundant work: When just enough is not enough

Read Ruth 2:1-23

There are several disturbing trends that have been gaining momentum over the past few decades in America: people are working longer hours, living in bigger homes, commuting longer distances, and overall running themselves into the ground with a frantic way of life. The most disturbing thing about these trends is that they are celebrated. Our culture has turned work into an idol, one that is worshipped with longer hours and bigger paychecks.

Surely there has to be another way. What is our work for? What is the purpose of our work? Money? Prestige? Success? Scripture lays out a different purpose for our work. It teaches us to live a life of abundance. But this abundance is not measured by the stuff that we have, it is measured by the stuff (money, time, etc.) that we give away.

In today’s reading, Ruth and Naomi have traveled back to Naomi’s land after experiencing incredible tragedy. They are both widows, poor and alone except for each other. So Ruth begins gleaning in the fields, picking up grain that had been dropped or left behind after the reapers had left the field. Ancient law permitted this practice. It was a way for the society to look out for those in need. Boaz, the owner of the field, certainly knew this and thus allowed Ruth to be there. But his actions did not stop there. Boaz ordered his reapers to let her glean among the sheaves (not just picking up grain that they accidentally dropped as they reaped), and he told them not to touch her. Moreover, they were to pull stalks from their bundles that had not yet been tied up by the women and leave them for her to pick up. Boaz's instructions were generous, far beyond what the law required that allowed gleaners in the fields only after the reapers had finished their work.

Any farmer would have allowed Ruth to glean from his fields. But Boaz went above and beyond what was expected. He saw to Ruth’s safety, provision, and care. Boaz was not satisfied with doing ‘just enough.’ He surpassed the law and went out of his way to care for someone in need.

As Christians, we must be about going above and beyond the call of duty. We cannot be satisfied with “just enough.” Like Boaz, we have been given so much. We all have over and above what we truly need, and so we must give over and above what is expected. This is true abundant living, measured not in stuff but in our actions towards “the least of these.” May our time this week teach us to move out of “just enough,” and into a life of abundant service.