January 24, 2024

Passage Read: Ruth 1-4
Meditation Verse: 3:11

Thought

Ruth was a woman of excellence, because she was willing to give up the life she could have had in her own country to return to Israel with Naomi and care for her. She was a woman of excellence because she diligently gleaned in the fields to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. She was a woman of excellence because she was content with their lot, but obedient to her mother-in-law when she sent her to Boaz. Excellence is not a quality limited to those with means or education or any other material benefit. Excellence is a quality that anyone can have, regardless of status. Ruth's situation would put her at the one of the lowest levels of poverty, but she neither complained nor abandoned her mother-in-law, but gave up everything to serve another. That is real excellence.

Application

I want to be diligent in serving others and providing what my family needs. We don't need to be rich, but to just have enough. The rest of my time can be used to serve still others for the Gospel. I don't want to be lazy, but I want to be diligent in serving my Lord. So I can be a man of excellence.