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What qualities should a young man look for in the girl that he would marry? What qualities should the girl look for in the young man? What qualities should we who are already married be demonstrating in our own lives? The book of Ruth provides some answers to these questions as it tells of the marriage of two wonderful people, Ruth and Boaz. The following qualities can be seen in Ruth, making her an ideal wife for Boaz:
1. SHE WAS LOYAL. The words, "Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God..." were not originally the sentiment expressed by a bride to her husband, but were words of a loyal daughter-in-law (Ruth) to her mother-in-law (Naomi). But the loyalty expressed by Ruth in those beautiful words to her mother-in-law was the kind of loyalty that would later make her a wonderful wife to Boaz.
2. SHE WAS HARD-WORKING. Having arrived in a strange land with her mother-in-law, Ruth recognized that some provision had to be made for their physical sustenance. So she went out gleaning for corn; i.e., she picked up whatever grain was dropped along the way by the reapers. It just "happened" that the field in which she gleaned was that of Boaz.
3. SHE WAS UNSELFISH. She not only gleaned for herself; she was also providing for her mother-in-law.
4. SHE WAS GOD-FEARING. Ruth had been brought up in the land of Moab and had been taught to serve the gods of the Moabites. Through her first husband and in-laws, however, she had learned of the one true God and had come to serve Him. The death of her husband had not affected her loyalty to God, for true loyalty to God transcends death, life, parents, or whatever. This fear of God on the part of Ruth was particularly attractive to Boaz, who, on his first meeting with her, commended her: "The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge" (Ruth 2:12)
5. SHE WAS GRATEFUL. This beautiful quality, so rare in our own society, shone unmistakably in the life of Ruth, as she, in response to the kindness of Boaz, "fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?" (Ruth 2:10)
6. SHE WAS MORE CONCERNED FOR QUALITY THAN FOR PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS IN A HUSBAND. Indications are that Boaz was considerably older than Ruth. But Boaz was a near kinsman to Ruth's first husband, which, along with his moral and spiritual qualities, made him far more suitable than one who might be closer to her own age. Ruth's recognition of this and her desire to have Boaz as her husband again evoked a response of praise from the lips of Boaz: "Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich" (Ruth 3:10).
7. SHE WAS MORALLY PURE. It could be said of Ruth in a general way: "For all the city of my people know that you are a virtuous woman" (Ruth 4:11) But circumstances recorded in the book of Ruth itself, provided a specific occasion for her and Boaz to demonstrate just how morally pure they really were. The occasion we speak of resulted when Ruth, mistakenly believing that Boaz was the nearest relative to her husband, and consequently believing that she had every right to become his wife (read Deut. 25:5-10), went in the dark of night to Boaz with full intentions of becoming his wife that night. There was just one problem: he was not the nearest relative, and they therefore had not right to become husband and wife until legal requirements could be met. Although they were alone at night, possibly possessed with a mutual love, and having full intentions of becoming husband and wife as soon as possible, they maintained their moral purity, leaving a good example for all who would follow afterward. "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornication and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4).
We are quite sure that if there were more "Ruths" in this world there would be far fewer divorces. What about it, girls? Are you seeking to be a "Ruth"? And, boys, would a "Ruth" be attractive to you? Nothing is said of Ruth's physical appearance, but she was a beautiful woman, for she had a beautiful character.
The Bible teaches that such a woman is of great value, for: "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies" (Prov. 31:10). The young man who finds such a wife "finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord" (Prov. 18:22)
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