Pray 4 Noble Character

Ruth is a rock star.

How so? Well, of the 39 books of the Old Testament, 24 are named after people. Only 2 are named after women – Ruth and Esther. The genealogy of Jesus only identifies 4 women. Ruth is one of the four. Evidently, somebody thinks Ruth is a rock star.

But why?

Well, after Ruth’s husband died, she stayed with her mother-in-law and continued to show her great kindness. When necessary and at great personal peril, Ruth took a job as a common laborer and worked long hours. Not anything particularly newsworthy or epic. Just day-by-day, month-by-month, year-by-year, and the word got out – Ruth was a “woman of noble character.”

Let’s face it. One of the hardest things about life is that it can be so boring, so tedious, and most of all so daily. The challenge becomes meeting each day with “noble character” – no matter what.

Yes, the little things matter – and build character.

Who knew?

Ruth, the rock star, knew.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank-you for the opportunity of each day, and for filling each day with little things that matter. Thank-you for giving me the “noble character” of Ruth. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Wikipedia: Ruth (Biblical figure)

Look-it Up:

1. Ruth’s story is fully told in the 8th book of the Old Testament.
2. The genealogy of Jesus is given in the 1st Chapter of the New Testament book, Matthew.

Free Bonus:

The Hebrew word for “noble character” (ishah hayil) is only used 4 times in the Old Testament. Besides the passage in Ruth 3:11, the other 3 times are in the book of Proverbs (a collection of religious wisdom and values attributed to King Solomon). The passages are:

Proverbs 12:4

A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, But a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Proverbs 31:10

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Proverbs 31:29

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.

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