Where Hast Thou Gleaned Today?
Today’s Verse:
And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. ~Ruth 2:19
One of the favorite questions family members or close friends ask each other at the end of a day is,“What did you do today?” In agriculture, harvest time is busy. During harvest, crops have to be reaped and gathered before they start to become unprofitable and the season changes. Ruth chose to glean after the reapers in the field of Boaz. She came home with much more than expected. Naomi asked her, “Where hast thou gleaned today?” It is an important question for us to think about in terms of benchmarking our accountability.
We see the principle.
“And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.” Gleaning was an opportunity for those who did not own land and were poor to follow behind the reapers of the field and pick up whatever was dropped on the ground. Those who did gleaning would always be in the background and followed others. They would have to be attentive, sharp, and patient. Sometimes they gleaned very little, and other times more. The key to gleaning successfully was to stay at it and work hard.
We see the priority.
“So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned.” Imagine with me for a moment if you were a gleaner yourself. Your ability to sustain yourself and your loved ones depended upon how well you gleaned in the fields that day. First, you would start very early in the morning. Second, you would plan to follow and work as much of the field until evening came. You would only stop for a short rest, to eat, and drink some water. It was important that time was not wasted. Your priority was to glean as much as you could. You would give your best and most focused effort when you went out to the field.
We see the predetermination.
Successful gleaning meant that you had to be motivated to start and finish well. Being motivated involves setting goals and establishing a plan to accomplish them. Goals are targets that you set out to achieve. As you work at meeting these goals, you should have predetermined checkpoints to measure your progress. Ruth caught the attention of the reapers and the owner of the field. First, as a foreigner, people wanted to know what her motivation was. Second, when people realized she was Naomi’s daughter in law, they knew immediately that Ruth was doing what she did to care for herself and Naomi. Ruth’s diligence, focus, and commitment to success set her apart as a successful gleaner.
We see the profitability.
“So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.” Ruth gleaned an amount that more than took care of both women! Naomi was very surprised and impressed and asked, “Where hast thou gleaned today?” Ruth was very profitable in her efforts that day!
What’s the lesson from this? We live one day at a time. How we plan that day and how hard we work determines our short-term and long-term results. Take each day seriously as you glean. Be thankful for the little and when there is much. Be consistent in your efforts and be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you of the reason of the hope that is in you.
Have a diligent God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Revelation 9-12