God does not just Provide, He also Lavishes on His Own

Scripture: Ruth 2:14-16

At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left.  When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her.  “Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”

Insights:  Last week we learned God provides for those whom He loves.  In today’s verses, however, I want to expand the thought regarding God’s provision.  Notice with me Boaz feeds her lunch to such an extent she has to get a doggie back to take the rest home with her.  Also notice Boaz gives instruction to his sight manager to let her glean from the sheaves and to intentionally drop some grain for her to pick up along the way.  Beloved, she was already provided for in the previous verses we looked at last week.  In these verses we see God lavishing her with extra blessing and grace.  I would tell you this pattern is God’s hearts desire.  He does not just wish to supply our needs, but rather wishes to WOW us with His grace.  Does Ruth need more food than she has already harvested at this point?  The answer is no, but God is in a very real way displaying to her His amazing grace and provision.  I think one of the problems with the modern church is we have become so self-sufficient and prideful we no longer “need” God to provide for us.  Because we don’t even “need” His provision, we have lost the possibility of being lavished upon by the Lord.  We need to return to a biblical state of humility, gratitude and dependence on the Lord God.  As we display such an honest and contrite heart to the splendor of our King, we will be awed as we experience His ever increasing provision with which He is lavishing upon His own.  It is my prayer you evaluate your life and your walk with the Lord.  It is my desire for us all to experience the WOW of God’s love as He lavishes His goodness on us.  Tomorrow we will see Ruth’s response to being lavished on by the Lord.

Questions:

1.  Have you expressed gratitude to the Lord for the way He lavishes provision and love on you?

2.  How have you recently experienced God’s lavish provision in you life?

Prayer: Father, Your abundant provision is always amazing, but when You lavish Your grace on me, I am overwhelmed with inexpressible joy and thanksgiving.  Thank Your for Your love.  Amen.