When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do no insult her.I'm not sure what the significance of the first part here is, so I'm going to have to skip over that. My attention was caught by the second part of the command. Apparently, the servants had been insulting her, or maybe that they often would insult gleaners. In some ways this isn't surprising, as gleaners were the poorest people around.
We have an unfortunate tendency to look down on those less fortunate. Even servants here, not exactly of high status themselves, apparently were dismissive of Ruth. This is something that I've recently been somewhat convicted of with my attitude toward the poor, and am trying to be mindful of and correct myself. I can't say that I always succeed, but I'm trying to be more sensitive to their needs and see what I can do to assist, without becoming a support that is relied on instead of their own work. I can't say I've found an answer to striking that balance yet, but I am seeking one, and hope this verse will help me in my efforts.
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