From the archives of Evelyn Roberts
When someone mentions giving, people usually think of money. But the Book of Ruth teaches us that giving can be more than giving money.
Naomi, an Israelite, and her daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth, who were Moabites, had all been widowed while living in Moab. Naomi decided to go home to Bethlehem. All three began the trek, but Orpah, weeping, returned to Moab, Ruth said to Naomi, Whither thou goest, I will go; and …thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God (Ruth 1:16).While Ruth had no material things to give, she gave a seed of herself to Naomi.
Sometimes the Lord may want us to sow something as simple as a smile. One time Oral and I were in a busy restaurant, and the waitresses were rushing around. Our waitress had a deep scowl on her face, but Oral gave her a big smile and said, “I’d feel so much better if you would smile back at me.” When she brought our food, a smile crossed her face like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. It was a wonderful smile, but it probably wouldn’t have happened if Oral hadn’t planted a seed and given her a smile first.
There are so many ways to give. The Lord may want you to sow some of your time, a precious commodity. You might say, “I can’t do that. I don’t have enough time as it is now!” But II Corinthians 9:10 says that God multiplies your seed back to you. That’s what happened to Ruth. When she gave herself for Naomi, leaving behind her own people, the Lord multiplied the seed she sowed in ways she couldn’t have dreamed. After her marriage to Boaz, she became the mother of Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of David, who was an ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus Christ! (See Ruth 4:13-17.)
What greater harvest could she have received from her giving! And God has a miraculous, multiplied harvest of blessing for you, when you give. (See Luke 6:38.)