TOPIC: HARD‐WORK AND INTEGRITY

Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, grant me understanding and illumination as I ponder on your word in Jesus name.

Question(s) for Reflection
• Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
• Is there any promise for me to believe or hope for?

MESSAGE

The sustainability of every family is usually threatened when unemployment, loss of job or death strikes. Global economic downturn, especially due to the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020/21, devastated many families, particularly in African countries. For Naomi and Ruth, it is death. Read vs.2‐7 again. How do the women address their need for food supply?

Only a hard‐working woman would go to glean grains in harvest fields. She does not depend on her aged and already devastated mother‐in‐law. What lesson can you learn from the favour Ruth obtains finding herself in Boaz’s field (vs.8‐10)? There is dignity in labour. Laziness does not bring glory to the Lord. Very often, we do not know that the good we do over time gets reported elsewhere.

Boaz receives good report about Ruth (v.11; cf., Matthew 5:16). What attributes can you identify in the character of Boaz (vs.9, 22, 23) and Ruth (vs.10, 13)? It takes integrity not to take advantage of the poor and vulnerable, and remaining humble and always grateful.

Practice/Word Application
And So: Watch out for the opportunity to show kindness to any needy person around you, preserving their integrity and yours in the process.

• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?

Closing Prayer
• Grant me the grace, dear Lord, to love hard work for the sake of helping others.

Prayer for the week
• Pray for brethren who are sick that God will heal them miraculously. Remember brethren who are believing God for marriage and those believing him for the fruit of the womb, that they will hear good news this year in Jesus name.

Offer a prayer of faith in line with
Proverbs 1:8 ‐ 9; Ezekiel 13‐15

Daily Guide 3rd September 2022 | Scripture Union