Character Review: Lessons from the Life of Boaz

Happy New Month! If you are new here, Welcome to our Character Study blog! 

From this month through the end of the year, we are shifting gears a little bit in how we do our character studies. Instead of our usual approach of asking questions about the events that happened in the lives of the characters, for the next four months, we will focus on reviewing the lessons we can learn from their lives.

For this September, we will explore the lessons we can learn from Boaz’s character. Before we delve into the lessons, let's look at how the Bible described a man and a woman in the Book of Proverbs.

In Proverbs 31:10, the Bible asks, “Who can find a virtuous woman?” Then, in Proverbs 20:6, it asks, “A faithful man who can find?”

I found this interesting and wanted to understand what the Bible means by a faithful man. A faithful man is a man who is first faithful to God, a man who keeps his commitments and promises, one who is consistent, reliable, dependable and loyal.

Now to the Lessons...

The life of Boaz teaches us that:

1. A good man supports the woman in his life, encourages her, and helps bring out the best in her.

From the first time Boaz encountered Ruth, he spoke kindly to her and affirmed her. He recognized what she had done for Naomi and encouraged her to continue gleaning in his field. He also instructed his workers to treat her well, ensuring that she could work safely and comfortably among people she did not know.

Notice that Boaz did not tell Ruth not to work. Rather, he created an environment where she could work and provide for herself and Naomi with dignity and security.
[Ruth 2:5–17]

2. A good man looks beyond a person’s past or circumstances and recognizes the good in her character.

Ruth had been married before, and she was a Moabite—a foreigner who had come from a different cultural and religious background. Yet Boaz did not allow her background to define his view of her.

Instead, he recognized her kindness toward Naomi, her willingness to leave her family and homeland, and her decision to embrace Naomi’s people and God. Boaz saw the character behind her circumstances and was moved by the woman he saw before him.
[Ruth 1:16–17; 2:11–12]

3. A good man pays attention to the needs of the woman he cares about and makes an effort to help meet them.

Boaz did not only speak kind words to Ruth; his kindness was demonstrated through his actions. He made sure she had enough grain to gather and even instructed his workers to intentionally pull out extra grain for her. He also gave her additional grain to take home to Naomi.

His generosity shows us that genuine care is often demonstrated through thoughtful actions, even in seemingly small ways.
[Ruth 2:9, 14, 16; 3:15]

4. A good man recognizes and values a woman of character.

Boaz recognized Ruth as a woman of noble character. Ruth had already demonstrated her loyalty, humility, diligence, and commitment to Naomi, and Boaz respected what he saw in her.

When Naomi learned that Boaz had shown interest in Ruth, she told her, “The man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day” (Ruth 3:18). Boaz was intentional about pursuing the matter properly and making sure Ruth’s future was secure.

5. A good man is patient and respects what is right.

Although Boaz clearly admired Ruth, he did not force the relationship. There was another relative who had the first right to redeem Naomi’s family property and marry Ruth. Boaz gave him the opportunity to fulfill that responsibility. When the man declined, Boaz willingly stepped forward.
[Ruth 3–4]

 

Reflection

• After looking at the life of Boaz, do you think he demonstrated the qualities of a faithful man? Why or why not?
• What other qualities of a faithful man do you see in Boaz’s character?

Take some time to read the Book of Ruth for yourself and look closely at Boaz’s words, decisions, and actions. You can add to this list and share your thoughts with your friends and family.

You can also share your thoughts with us through the comment section or by emailing us through the contact form. We would love to hear what other lessons you have learned from the life of Boaz.