RUTH 2:2 : So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of
grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
Sometimes we try to buy people’s favor-and even God’s favor. We’re like the little girl who won five
dollars for her memory work in Sunday school. Later when the pastor’s wife congratulated her, the girl
proudly announced, “And I put it all in the morning’s offering!” “My, how wonderful!” the pastor’s wife
exclaimed. “I’m sure God will be pleased.” “Yes,” the child replied, “now maybe He will let me do
some of the things I want to do!” This little girl was looking for the wrong kind of favor in the wrong
place.
Ruth was also looking for favor-but not the kind you buy with money or flattery. She wanted to come
by her favor honestly. She trusted God to bring her to someone’s field who would accept her as she
was.
Even though she wasn’t an Israelite, she hoped someone would allow her to glean what was left in
the fields. The favor she sought would be the result of the gleaner’s grace, not Ruth’s glory.
This is the kind of favor God offers. Nothing we possess or do can influence Him to look with favor on
us. We cannot buy His favor or manipulate Him by our behavior.
His favor comes because He loves us, even while we are yet sinners (Rom. 5:8). Through His Son,
Jesus Christ, God has made it possible for our sins to be forgiven (Eph. 1:7). God’s favor is given
because of who He is, not because of who we are.
Have you found favor in God’s sight? You can, right now, right where you are, by confessing that you
are a sinner and asking Jesus Christ to be your Savior.
GOD’S FAVOR CAN BE NEITHER BOUGHT NOR SOLD, BUT IT CAN BE ENJOYED.