Testimony of Living

The last time I wrote, we were 24 hours from launching our first LeverageU event called LeverageU @ Rusty Taco.  It was a GREAT Success.  We raised $1500 for the No Hungry Child Campaign all by leveraging our meal.  We had about 400 people come out and the 1 hour line literally coiled around the inside of the restaurant.  With live music and plenty of friends, we all had a blast.  We truly leveraged our everyday lives to help hungry children.

As the event approached, and especially afterward, I have been looking at the life of Boaz and learning from his character and action.  I posted before that he truly leveraged his life.  In this short blog series I want to share some of what I have learned about Boaz.

Boaz was a man who leveraged his resources, but those resources were not just financial.  Leveraging was truly a lifestyle for him.  Focus in on chapter two and you will see Boaz leveraging his life to help Ruth, an immigrant woman in need. (You will want to read chapter 1 to get the greater context.)

First, Boaz leveraged his PEOPLE.  In verse 8, He charges Ruth to glean after his own women and keep close to them.  In that time, gleaning was not the safest of jobs.  Gleaning means she was picking up the leftovers – what the harvesters had missed.  Staying with his women, Ruth gained added safety.

Second, Boaz leveraged his PROPERTY. In verse 9, Boaz tells Ruth to keep her eye on his field.  Gleaning was that day’s version of the welfare system.  Provisions were made in the law so that gleaning was made available for the poor.  Instead of just following the Law and letting Ruth glean, Boaz instructs her to stay in His field. He offers his field for her provision.

Third, Boaz leveraged his PROTECTION. As stated, gleaning was not the safest form of labor.  Often women were taken advantage of and at a minimum harassed and uncared for by the harvesters.  Boaz will not allow this.  He commands his harvester not to lay a hand on her.

Fourth, Boaz leveraged his PROVISIONS.  Boaz goes beyond her physical protection and moves to Ruth’s physical needs.  If you are thirsty, take some of my water he says.  This is the same water that his employees are drinking from.  In fact, it is the water they picked up for themselves!

Fifth, Boaz leveraged his POWER.  Boaz is described as a “mighty or worthy” man in verse 1.  Indeed, he had a large amount of influence and authority.  By reading this story you can clearly see his power wielded for this young immigrant in need.  In verse 15 we see Boaz moving Ruth right up into the harvesters, for her to “glean” among the sheaves.  At this point, it seems to me that she is no longer gleaning, but harvesting as well. She is now not only receiving the water these workers drew, but the harvest they are reaping!  Boaz continues telling them to even pull out some of their bundles and leave it for Ruth!  That is power my friends.

Finally, Boaz Leveraged his POSITION.  Boaz was a kinsmen redeemer.  Without going into this too much here, basically, Boaz was second in line for the responsibility to care for Ruth and perpetuate the family line.  This position of Kinsman redeemer was an important position that he chose not to turn from as the first redeemer had done in chapter 4.

Sorry for the longer post.  I am actually going to go deeper into these characteristics of Boaz this coming Tuesday night at The Awakening.  If you comment, you may be adding to the discussion.  I’d love to hear from you.

The next part in this series will look at the result of Boaz leveraging his life.