Ruth 2:21-23

FAMILY

Boaz was very kind and provided for Naomi and Ruth. He told Ruth to keep gathering grain in his fields, working near his own servants. Naomi was quick to see that this would also help to insure Ruth's safety. This was, after all, a foreign country to Ruth. And with Ruth working in Boaz’ fields, this close relative of Naomi would be reminded of the honor and obligation of a kinsman-redeemer (verse 20), to care for the widows and to buy the land of their late husbands so that it could be passed on to their sons and grandsons.

Ruth continued to work faithfully in the field of Boaz until both the barley and wheat harvests were finished – a period of about two months. There was plenty of time for their relationship to grow. Yet during this time, Ruth lived with and cared for her mother-in-law as Naomi got older. Ruth respected Naomi and obeyed her, just as God commands in the Fourth Commandment that we honor our fathers and mothers.

Our parents never stop being our parents. We may move out of the house. We may start having families of our own and become parents ourselves. But our parents always deserve our respect, love and care. Used as a guide in our lives of faith and done out of love for Christ and our heavenly Father, we are reminded that applications of the Fourth Commandment can be found at all stages of ours and our parents’ lives.