Exposition
The beginning of every new venture can be very challenging. Ruth was resolute in her decision to follow her mother-in-law; but what was going to be her next line of action after their arrival in Jerusalem. Ruth could have folded her arms waiting for Naomi’s directive on what to do; instead, without being told, she decided on the path of hard work. I like to describe this act as using your own initiative to make yourself useful. Most of the mentors we come across will not engage us too much to serve because they may not want to burden us. Some will go as far as trying to stop any act of service to them, but we must still remember that service brings promotion.
Proverbs 14:23 says that all hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Ruth had great profit for her hard work, she was able to get food for herself and Naomi. More than that, she had favour with Boaz and the harvesters. I believe it was easier for Boaz to redeem the properties of Naomi’s late husband and marry Ruth as well, because of the circumstances under which he met Ruth for the very first time.
There are several biblical examples to illustrate the fact that protégés should make themselves useful to their mentors. Moses served Jethro by tending his sheep, Elisha used to pour water on the hands of Elijah and Apostle Paul described Timothy as being useful to him. It is unfortunate that voluntary service is dying out in many societies today, probably because some people see service as menial and demeaning. Start by providing useful services to your mentor and open doors of favour and blessings for yourself. Hard work is not limited to serving other significant people in our lives, but it should span across every area of life. There is a price to be paid for greatness and hard work is part of that price.