Our passage today is from the Book of Ruth, a little four-chapter book in the Old Testament. This passage shows a habit of the man Boaz (whom Ruth later marries). It’s the habit of blessing others. The first thing he says to his workers in the field is the blessing, “The Lord be with you.” And they bless him right back with “The Lord bless you.” It’s something that they’ve probably said to each other a thousand times. It shows Boaz’s habit of speaking not just politely but with active goodwill, even to those who are subordinate to him. And his hired hands offer that goodwill right back to him.
I would guess that Boaz did not have a hard time finding people to work for him given that habitual respect for others that he shows. His blessing radiates on them, and they radiate blessing back to him.
Later on, Boaz speaks with Ruth, whom he is just getting to know. There are many things he has observed and been told about her, and his respect and regard for her has grown the more he learns. It all culminates in another blessing. He says to her, “May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” As the rest of their story unfolds, we see just how beautifully and poetically God makes those wings of blessing unfold and wrap around Boaz and Ruth.
But back to Boaz and his habit of blessing others. By the end of the book of Ruth, almost everyone is verbally calling down blessings on each other. Boaz started the blessing habit, and now everyone has caught that habit—even Naomi, who’s been so bitter and hopeless, and even the women of the town, who’ve been observing the romance and gossiping. Everyone has a blessing to share. It’s a contagious habit!
Maybe we could catch that habit, too.