Ruth 3:14-18; Ruth 4:1-6
"There is no man," observes Jesus to His disciples, "that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake . . . but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time . . ." (Mark 10:29-30 – see also Hebrews 6:10). Ruth was not disappointed in her choice. Neither did she lose her reward. Boaz who had asked for the blessing of the LORD to be upon her, (Ruth 2:12) is himself to be the reward which will recompense her faith.
The same is true with the Lord and His people. "I count all things but loss," writes the apostle Paul, ". . . that I may win . ." A reward? No! "that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8).
But there is something which must be done first. Ruth must be redeemed, and Boaz wastes no time before tackling this question. In spite of his wish to do so, the nearest relation could not do it (v. 6). He makes us think of the Law and its incapability when it comes to saving men or of bringing them into God’s blessings. On the other hand, in Boaz we have divine grace. When there is no longer any resource available, this grace is revealed in a Person, Jesus the Redeemer; He pays the ransom.