In verse one, as it introduces Boaz, it says that he was a man of "Standing". As you read the story about Ruth gleaning in the fields, you get to verse 13, and then again, the same term is used to describe Ruth except in the opposite way. Boaz was a man of "Standing"; however, Ruth describes herself as not even having the "Standing" of one of his servant girls.
Okay, so, what does it mean when they are using the term standing. They are talking about their social and financial status. Boaz was man of wealth and was well known amoung the people. Ruth was very poor, less that one of his servant girls, and she also was a foreigner, so her social status was very low as well. But look at what Boaz says to the people in verse 4.
Boaz, a man of standing, comes to the fields that he owns, and calls out to the people who are there working for him, in his fields, and that is how he greets them by calling out, "The Lord be with you"! Then they respond back to him, "The Lord bless you!"
It seems to me that Boaz was not only a man of standing but he was a man of compassion. He cared about the people who worked for him. Fortunately, I work for a Christain owned company and the managers and supervisors that I am "under" are very compassionate people and care about their employees. How about you? If you are the employer or if you are in a position of management where you work, how are you at managing your employees? Do you show compassion and manage your employees the way God would want you to?
Now, employees, it's your turn! In verse 5, Boaz notices a young woman in the field gleaning, and he asks his foreman, who is that? He notices her right away? Why? Could it be that she was a foreigner? She was new on the job? She was a hard worker? In verse 7, the foreman says these words about her, "she went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter." Boaz had already heard what Ruth had done for Naomi and now here she is working hard, steadily, to provide. Not asking for a hand out. Not complaining about having to glean the fields after everyone else. She was humble, grateful, hard-working, and committed. What kind of employee are you? Do you work for your employer as if you were working for God?
As you read through to verse 14, you see that because of her hard work and committment, she found favor in the eyes of Boaz, even though she didn't even have the standing of one of his servant girls.
Boaz and Ruth both show strong character traits about how to handle people and relationships.
How we treat people and handle people mean alot. Whether employer, employee or coworker, we have to remember to have compassion and show concern for the people around us, whether we consider them to be "standing" or not.
