Ruth's Persevering Labor: From Morning Until Evening
Ruth gleaned in the field until even, and her constancy teaches us about persevering labour in gospel work. Those who serve Elohim must continue their gleaning from morning through evening, not merely offering a morning of service before turning to pleasure. Ruth was no lazy gleaner; she understood that Adonai requires us to use all available means in cooperation with His bounty.
God grants grace and knowledge through our diligent use of means, not immediately from Himself alone. "God sells all for labour," as the ancient scholar observed. No labour is too insignificant for love. Though Ruth came from a family of ease and plenty, she undertook work deemed common and undignified. Yet her toil held worth—two lives depended upon it, and her love for Naomi consecrated even the lowest means for the highest ends.
The Bible itself is our gleaning field. We must search the Scriptures diligently, picking up every grain of precious nourishment contained within. How many neglect this work entirely, loitering idle through life's day? Others delay their gleaning until evening comes, squandering youth's bright hours on worldly pursuits. But Ruth began in the morning, recognizing that every hour must be employed, every moment precious.
She laboured with full awareness that her evening accounting would show faithful work completed. Let us make Yahweh's Word our daily study, gleaning continuously until our own evening comes.
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