What type of character is Ruth?

Ever wonder what it takes to get noticed in a crowded room of people pursuing the same things you are or to achieve success in your calling? 

The marketplace is teeming with gurus touting the secrets of success or the magic sauce to achieve your dreams. And while some of it may be useful, I can’t help returning to God’s word for my tried and true answers.

The Book of Ruth provides invaluable guidance and is where I gleaned some indispensable truths. 

So let’s recap the context, key events, and people that were involved in the Old Testament narrative and discover the key takeaways…

Three men, three deaths, three widows 

Naomi, Elimilech (her husband), and two sons (Mahlon and Kilion) sought to make Moab their home after fleeing famine in Judah. But Naomi becomes a widow in the land and within ten years of her husband’s death, both sons also die.

Ouch. 

Needless to say Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth experienced tremendous loss. Their husbands were dead. And in the ancient world of their time, without the protective covering and provision of their husbands, they were doomed. 

Naomi chose to return to Judah. Empty and broken. 

Orpah departed to her hometown in Moab.

But Ruth clung to her mother-in-law and declared: 

“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.

Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

Ruth 1:16

Ruth’s path wasn’t going to be easy

In modern day vernacular, the odds were stacked against Ruth.

Widowed in her prime, childless, and a ‘lowly’ foreigner. 

By all accounts, she had reason to bemoan her circumstances, but she didn’t. Instead, she remained at the side of her mother-in-law, persevering through hardship to eventually become a woman of great renown. 

I don’t know about you, but I am wowed by Ruth. What compelled her to remain steadfast in the face of great trial? 

There is so much we can learn from her and apply in our own lives today.

What set her apart and got her noticed?

There are 7 outstanding characteristics that got Ruth noticed and secured her success. 

She was…

1. Determined

To say Ruth was determined is an understatement. She made up her mind to follow Naomi to Bethlehem and live amongst the people of God rather than return to the land of her father in Moab. And as we read, Ruth was ready to put her life on the line to make it happen.

Naomi knew there was no changing her mind so stopped trying (Ruth 1:18).

I’m challenged by the depth of Ruth’s determination. 

Is there anything that I am so determined to pursue where turning back is not even an option?

As a matter of fact…YES. 

Now I may not be laying my life on the line to do it but I can say with certainty that I am determined to complete my nursing degree and follow Jesus along the path He’s prepared for me. Although going back to school has been a difficult transition – I am determined to complete what I have been called to pursue. And while this doesn’t mean I have full clarity of the plans God has for me, I’m taking this step by faith and determination to move forward in it. 

What about you? What have you settled in your heart with determination to pursue?

2. Humble

Being humble is often misunderstood as being weak or of low self-esteem. 

In reality however, being humble or having humility is to think of yourself less often and others more often. You can seek to recognize the value of others and serve them first without diminishing your own value. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Ruth sought first and foremost to serve and support her mother-in-law which she did with great respect. 

When she learned of the relative in whose field she could work, she did not set out brazenly to ‘get hers’ but asked permission of Naomi to “go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight [she] may find favor” (Ruth 2:2). She went without expectation of a ‘hand out’ but rather a heart disposition of submission to those in authority and a strong work ethic. 

And this did not go unnoticed.  

3. Hardworking

Ruth was no slouch. She worked from dawn to dusk… everyday during harvest season… without complaint. No small feat. Truth be told, I wouldn’t have been able to keep pace with her.

The servant in charge of the reapers of the field, the men and young women working the field, all witnessed her diligence and hard work. 

Ruth did her work as unto God and not for the applause of others and in the end, she reaped benefits that she could not have ever imagined (Col 3:23-24).

4. Loyal

Ruth was Naomi’s ‘ride or die’. 

Her fierce loyalty to her mother-in-law caught the eye of Boaz, the relative of Naomi’s husband. He’d heard of all she had done for Naomi since the death of her husband and two sons. He also knew she had forsaken the security of her own father and mother’s home to live among a people she did not know (Ruth 2:11). 

Boaz was stirred.

He felt great respect for Ruth and sought to reward her kindness. He gave clear instruction to his management team to make sure she was taken care of. That she was protected while she gleaned, that there was extra grain left for her to gather, and refreshments available when she needed to rest. 

Favour. Likened, no doubt, to the favour we as God’s beloved receive from our Heavenly Father.

5. Kind

Ruth exuded loving kindness or hesed in Hebrew referring to a sacrificial and loyal love. 

And as we have already witnessed, Ruth was selfless in her care for Naomi. Her love compelled her to sacrifice all of herself for the welfare of her mother-in-law. Toiling from dawn to dusk in the fields to gather grain. And even when she took a short break during her long day to refuel, she did not hesitate to squirrel a portion of her meal away to share with Naomi so she too could partake and be filled (Ruth 2:14,18). 

6. Courageous

And this is where it gets interesting. Not that everything that preceded this point was not. But I’d hazard to say, this took gumption.

Because, upon the direction of her wise mother-in-law, Ruth presented herself at the feet of Boaz on the threshing floor to ask for his protection as her kinsman redeemer. “Spread your cloak over me, for you are a family redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9)

Now I have heard fanciful suggestions of what might have happened that evening. But I support the pure and simple notion of a courageous woman, who risked rejection and ridicule with the hope to secure her future and the future of her mother-in-law. 

She was obedient in the face of fear. And her obedience to the instruction given her was rewarded.

Boaz understood her request and responded with praise for her kindness and virtuous character. And wasting no time, he immediately set out to fulfill his role as her kinsman redeemer. 

7. Faith-filled

Ruth’s faith was active.

From the moment we are introduced, we know that she has met and been forever changed by the God of her mother-in-law. 

She declares “your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16) and commits to trust in Him. And God does not disappoint. Throughout the unfolding of Ruth’s journey, His providence and intimate care is evidenced. 

As she takes action and exercises her faith, God orchestrates her arrival at the field of Boaz, the provision of abundant grain, safety and protection, food to eat, and ultimately marriage to Boaz – her kinsman redeemer and the birth of their son – the great grandfather of King David and descendant of our redeemer Jesus Christ.

Whew! 

Quite the lofty list of outstanding characteristics that got Ruth noticed which led to her success. And while we may exhibit these traits at varying degrees, we sometimes abandon them when our situation gets too difficult.  When we do, we miss out on the blessing awaiting us at the end of the journey.

But thankfully, God does not demand perfection. Instead, He desires our willingness to be shaped and molded in His hands to become the person He has designed us to be.

So instead I ask, how can I be more courageous or faith-filled as I pursue all that God has prepared for me? Like Ruth, I can choose to be obedient in the next thing I must do, and even if I feel fear, I can trust God to direct my steps.

What about you? What can you glean from Ruth to achieve your dreams?

Related Post: Your WHY is More Important than Your DREAM