Unless we're very intentional about meditating on these truths [that show God's love], they slip from our thoughts like misty dreams that evaporate in the morning light. That's why Luther said we must take heed then, to embrace...the love and kindness of God...[and to] daily exercise [our] faith therein, entertaining no doubt of God's love and kindness.— Elyse Fitzpatrick
Kindness is more than a simple act—it is a divine virtue, embodying compassion, mercy, and love in action. In a world that can often seem fractured and divided, experiencing and extending kindness brings healing and reflects God's heart toward humanity. This deeper, divine love invites us to live in a way that fosters unity, peace, and transformation.
The story of Ruth in the Bible is a beautiful testament to how God’s kindness unfolds in our lives, often through the kindness of others. Ruth, a Moabite woman, found herself on a path of loss and uncertainty after the death of her husband. Yet, even in her grief, Ruth demonstrated remarkable loyalty and compassion—two characteristics deeply rooted in the Hebrew concept of ‘ chesed’
[loving-kindness].
When Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, decided to return to Bethlehem after the loss of her husband and sons, she urged Ruth and her other daughter-in-law, Orpah, to return to their families in Moab, where they could seek new lives. Naomi, recognising the sacrifices her daughters-in-law had already made, expressed her gratitude by praying that the Lord would show them the same kindness they had shown to her and her family. This prayer highlights the reciprocity of kindness—when we extend kindness to others, we open the door to receive God’s kindness in unexpected ways.
In a powerful display of chesed , Ruth chose not to return to her own family but to remain with Naomi, famously declaring, "Where you go, I will go; where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God."
(Ruth 1:16). Ruth’s decision was not based on obligation but on a deep sense of loyalty and compassion—qualities that are the very essence of God’s loving-kindness.
Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Ruth set out to provide for herself and Naomi by gleaning in the fields—a provision God had established in the Law of Moses to care for the poor and foreigners." This is where God's kindness, already flowing through Ruth’s actions, met her in a profound way. As it happened, God led her to the fields of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi’s late husband.
Boaz, hearing of Ruth’s kindness and loyalty to Naomi, extended protection, favour, and provision to her. His actions were not merely out of duty, but out of a recognition of Ruth’s noble character and her embodiment of chesed.
Through Boaz’s kindness, God orchestrated events that would lead to Ruth’s marriage to Boaz, securing not only Ruth's and Naomi’s future but also integrating Ruth into the lineage of King David and, ultimately, the genealogy of Jesus Christ. This divine orchestration shows how God works His purposes through the kindness we extend to others and how, in return, we experience His faithfulness and goodness.
Ruth’s story encourages us to see kindness as a tangible reflection of God’s love, a quality that has the power to transform lives and even shape history. Her journey teaches us to trust God’s providence, even in difficult times, and to expect His kindness in our daily lives.
Our Lord, Jesus, taught us the significance of kindness in the Beatitudes, saying, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." (Matthew 5:7). This principle echoes throughout Ruth's narrative and challenges us to cultivate kindness in our own lives—not only as an expression of love for others but also as a reflection of God’s character at work in us.