Helping Family is More Important than Money

family = love by greenbay at www.freeimages.com

The story of Boaz and Ruth tells about two worthy individuals who were dedicated to the Lord, the traditions and law of Israel, and their family.  In ancient Israel family loyalty and dedication to family was highly esteemed.  Many today tend to see Ruth as a love story, but it really is more about two people valuing God and family over personal interests.  

Ruth valued her mother-in-law above her self-interest leaving her homeland to go to Israel.  She pledges her love, faith, and loyalty to Naomi.  Boaz, her kinsman redeemer and future husband, is a wealthy landowner who values the kindness and devotion of Ruth to his relative Naomi.

Boaz is willing to risk his personal fortune and inheritance to redeem Ruth.  In redeeming Ruth he will purchase the land back from indebtedness for the family.  He will have the responsibility of raising up an heir with Ruth in the name of Ruth’s dead husband (this may all seem complicated if you are not familiar with the law of levirate found in Deut. 25:5-10).  What is significant is that he is involving himself in a financial situation in which he is losing money.  He takes in a wife, raises a child, redeems land, and it all goes to the deceased family member’s name and honor.  The land will one day leave Boaz and go to the heir.  A nearer kinsman refuses to redeem the land when he finds out that it will impair his future inheritance (4:6)

A salient point that comes through this story is that family is more important than money.  Families take care of one another and are loyal to each other.  Boaz and Ruth are willing to sacrifice personal pursuits, fortunes, and future inheritances in order to love, honor, and protect the family.  Our current culture often fails with this point.  Family allegiance is often low and people can be just plain selfish.  I am not suggesting that families should be foolish or enable a wasteful or lazy family member by constantly throwing money to him.  But I am saying we need to value family and be loyal to family above money and other self-interests.

Sadly, many families have found themselves fighting at the funeral over money, rather than comforting one another and honoring the deceased family member.  Let’s remember that supporting, helping, and even sacrificing to help family members in need is what God expects from us (1 Tim. 5:8).