Your STM Cross-cultural Journey With RuthExemplo

Success is great—but somehow different than I expected

Summary: Ruth and her redeemer unite to bring a blessing. Everyone celebrates, but suddenly things are out of Ruth’s hands. Is that OK?

Setup: In Bethlehem—also known as Ephrathah, “the fruitful land”—life has gone on since the dramatic events at the threshing floor and the city gate. Millet and lentils were harvested in mid-summer, grapes and figs in late summer. The fall festivals were followed by the early rains, and Boaz and other growers plowed and planted their fields anew. The soaking winter rains came, allowing the wheat and barley seedlings to sprout. The countryside turned a rich shade of green as new life emerged from the ground.

But the fields are not the only place where God is bringing forth new life.

Read: Ruth 4:13-21, observing what is ascribed to God, who names the baby, and who cares for the baby.

Then come back and tackle the questions below!

Reflect: Ruth receives praise, but she also sees others taking control of the situation. What kinds of feelings might she have?

Look Back: Think about a time when you shared something that was valuable to you with someone else. What motivated you? How did you feel afterward?

Look Around: In this community where you are serving, how do people make decisions? What is the role of the individual versus the community?

Ask God & Others: How can positive ministry results be passed along or multiplied for others? Is that something that can be planned for?

Pray & Plan: How do you want this week to be remembered by the people you are serving? Ask God to help you understand what success could look like.
Ask Him to prepare you for His future plan, even if it looks different than yours.

Dig Deeper: The family line descending from Ruth becomes very important. Where else is Ruth mentioned in the Bible? (Hint: Start at the beginning of the New Testament.)