Empowering the Needy

August 21, 2011


Background Scripture: Ruth 2, 3: Leviticus 19:9, 10
Lesson Passage: Ruth 2:8 – 18

I remember when “empowerment” was the latest fad in management style. All discussions about leadership at that time revolved around empowering employees to propel companies to the next level. Unfortunately, many were unsuccessful at it because they spoke of empowerment as something you do to someone. Empowerment is not about doing something to a person. Empowerment is simply creating an environment where individuals feel comfortable making decisions at their level based on their knowledge and training. Of course the key word in this is “comfortable”. A person is comfortable when he believes he has the support of others in the endeavors he pursues. Furthermore, it is more comforting to know that mistakes are looked at as learning opportunities and not reasons to criticize or crucify. An environment that provides this will always bring forth creativity and hard work on the part of those who take pride in what they do. Individuals quickly learn that nothing has been done to them only that the environment feels right for them to be all that they can be.

Our lesson today is a perfect example of how empowerment works in the life of someone in need. Needy people don’t need handouts as much as they need opportunities to better their lot in life. As we continue our study in the book of Ruth, Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth, the Moabite, have returned to Naomi’s homeland in Judea. They have returned in an economically impoverished state—since they are both widows. It was the time of harvest, so Ruth volunteered to go into the fields and pick up the grain that had been dropped by the reapers so that she and Naomi could have substance in which to survive. When the owner of the field came to the reapers and noticed Ruth, he inquired as to who she was. The reapers knew she was the Moabite who had come to Judea with Naomi and told it to him. They also spoke well of her work ethic. The owner then instructed Ruth to not go to any other fields but to remain in his field along with his maids. She was told that the young men there were instructed to not harass her in any way and to provide water for her to drink as needed as they were to do for the other maidens there. The first part of creating a comfortable environment is to make it welcoming and safe. Ruth recognized that this was a special favor and thanked him in the most humble way. She was told that she was now reaping what she had sown into the life of her mother-in-law because her reputation had been discussed by others. This is the second part of creating the right environment. She was told that this was not a handout but instead this opportunity was the reward for the labor she had already bestowed. Finally, she was given the opportunity to have even more because her work ethic and reputation had paved a way for her to gather more than what was needed to suffice her. The environment had been created that allowed Ruth to seize an opportunity to better herself because the owner of the field, Boaz, understood how to empower the needy.

Robert C. Hudson
August 11, 2011