“And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore” (Ruth 2:11).
TEXT — Ruth 2:8-14
Message
Reports and track records are vital. Good track records open doors to opportunities. When professional human resource experts are hiring fora position of high responsibility, they go beyond a well-packaged résumé. Often, this entails obtaining a report about the candidate from their previous employers. In some cases, the recruiters track the candidate’s digital foot print in a bid to gather vital information that will enable a quality decision.
In today’s text, when Boaz said to Ruth, “It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband…” he was referring to reports and a track record. The story about Ruth’s commitment, faithfulness, and tenacity had spread ahead and made a way for her. Boaz’s soft spot for her was, therefore, based on this report. He spoke kindly to her, permitted her to follow his reapers, and ordered them to treat her well. Ruth felt flattered by such generosity extended to a Moabitess. In the Eastern style, she bowed herself before him. Boaz further demonstrated piety in his prayerful response: “The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
In all these, we can see the blessedness of having a good report. In 3 John 1:12, it was reported that “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself…” Every believer is expected to have a good track record wherever he goes, dwells or works. This is why it was made part of the criteria for the appointment of a bishop in the early church,“Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lesthe fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:7). Indeed, we must constantly weigh our thoughts and actions on the scale of“whatsoever things are of good report.” Tabitha, was said to be “full of good works and almsdeeds.”
We are all creating records – good or bad. How conscious are you about the record your life is producing? If we let in the grace of God, we will become bastions of good works and obtain genuine godly reputation that glorifies God.
Thought for the day
God keeps record about you – and men too. What is it like?
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
