January 16 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

How quick are you to greet others in a meaningful way? Greeting each other is more than a matter of common courtesy and friendliness. The way you greet others says a great deal about you, about your moods, and your ability to reach out to and care for others. Even if you decide to say nothing or ignore others, that conveys something about you, too. What are you saying when you say goodbye? Do you desire that God bless those you are leaving behind? Do you consider the brevity of life when you are too angry or miserable to say goodbye? Remember, you may never have another opportunity to do so.

In Ruth 1 we encounter Naomi with her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, on the road to Bethlehem. Naomi is prepared to say goodbye to both these women without showing any concern for their eternal well-being. Her own bitterness has blinded her and that is why she has no qualms about leaving them behind in a land of paganism.

Ruth 2 introduces us to a man of faith and integrity. The manner in which Ruth hears Boaz greet his employees must have given her great confidence. She is in the company of a man who truly serves God. Ruth has come to a good place where she will be safe. In the time of the judges, where everyone did as they saw fit, the behaviour of Boaz is a breath of fresh air. He greets his workers with, “The Lord be with you”, and they respond in kind. Living in our materialistic and secular society we may have lost sight of the importance of Christian greetings. Yet, if we cannot say hello and goodbye to each other in the sense of wishing each other the blessing of the Lord, our relationships are superficial and empty.

Boaz is not ashamed to bring his faith into his work environment. May this serve as a lesson to us as we take up our positions in the kingdom and church of the Lord. Contrary to contemporary thinking, faith is not a private matter but permeates every area of life. Wishing others the blessing of the Lord gives us a fresh approach to our work. We no longer see the workplace as an arena where we need to compete but as a cathedral where we work together under the Lord’s blessing.