How God Rewards Our Integrity

Have you wondered how God rewards our integrity?

Have you been in a situation when you showed kindness and faithfulness to a person and wondered if you would get rewarded for your integrity?

Even though people will not always notice our integrity, God always notices. Not only that, but God rewards our integrity. We can see this beautifully illustrated in the story about Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz in the book of Ruth. 

Remember to pin me for later!

God Rewards Our Integrity – the Story of Ruth

Naomi loses both her husband and two sons in the land of Moab. She comes back to Bethlehem in Judah accompanied by Ruth, one of her daughters-in-law, who decides to stay with her until death parts them. (Ruth 1:17)

This act alone shows the high moral character of Ruth by being loyal to Naomi and by her clean break from her former land and customs. But Ruth continues to show her integrity through her hard work in the fields of Boaz, a close relative. She takes responsibility for her mother-in-law by following her advice and providing for her physical needs.

Naomi, in her turn, has a strong desire to take care of her daughter-in-law by arranging for her a marriage so she can find rest and security. (Ruth 3:1) With this in mind, Naomi advises Ruth to go in the night on the threshing floor to Boaz.

Ruth Receives Favor and Respect

Ruth obeys and we read in this passage about Boaz’s reaction after finding Ruth at his feet:

And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.” (Ruth 3:10)

At first, he is startled, but after Ruth reveals herself and asks him to spread his wings over her, meaning to take her for a wife, his reaction changes. In his answer to Ruth, we see how God has revealed Ruth’s character and commitment to Naomi, making Boaz say words of high praise and respect.

He blesses her in the name of the Lord and praises her last and first kindness. (Ruth 3:10) According to some commentaries, perhaps by kindness, he meant “chesed”, which also means piety or integrity.

He refers to her first kindness to Naomi and her choice to follow the God of Israel, and he also refers to her last kindness not to chase young men, but to fulfill the law and marry the next akin, so the name of her husband might not be extinct in Israel. He praises Ruth for not just aiming to mend her condition in life but endeavoring instead the building up the house of the deceased husband.

God Rewards Ruth’s Faithfulness and Integrity

We see how God rewards Ruth’s integrity by giving her Boaz’s favor and his highest respect, which leads him to take proper action and marry her. God richly rewards Ruth by giving her a home, security, and stability and making her part of Jesus’ family tree through her son Obed. (Ruth 4:22)

When we experience God’s faithfulness and kindness, we naturally respond by showing integrity. Jesus sees our integrity and our daily choice to follow Him faithfully. And He rewards integrity by giving us His favor and blessing us in ways far beyond what we can ask or imagine.

When we experience God’s faithfulness and kindness, we naturally respond by showing integrity. #integrity #Biblestudy #encouragement Share on X

God’s Wings of Care and Protection

When Ruth asks Boaz to spread her wings over, she acts according to Jewish custom. The word for wings can mean also the corners of a garment. The wing is the emblem of protection and is a metaphor taken from the young of fowls, which run under the wings of their mothers, so that they may be saved from birds of prey.

The meaning here is: “take me to be your wife, and perform the duty of a husband to me.” She also calls Boaz “a redeemer” or “goel”, to whom the right of redemption belongs. Even to the present day, when a Jew marries a woman, he throws the skirt or end of his “talith” over her, to signify that he has taken her under his protection.

God has also spread his wings of care and protection over Ruth and Naomi. His supreme control over circumstances brings them safety and security.

He guides the minds and activities of people to fulfill his purposes. So, no matter how devastating our present situation may be, our hope is in Jesus. His resources are infinite. We must believe He can work in the life of any person and trust His protection.

God sees and rewards our integrity by giving us His favor and blessing us in ways far beyond what we can ask or imagine. #integrity #reward #Biblestudy Share on X

Find More Courage and Strength to Stay Faithful with This Resource

Do you need more courage and strength to stay faithful to God? Check out this helpful resource.

This is a devotional to help you find new courage and strength in different challenging life situations, containing devotions, focusing on 7 major areas of life, selected scripture, and scripture-based prayer after each devotion.

Your Turn

How did God reward your faithfulness and integrity in a particular situation? If you found this article helpful, share it on social media. Thanks!

This page contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commission I make from these items will help keep this blog going. Thank you!

I send my newsletter “Keep the Faith” every two weeks. I share with you first the newest blog post, recommended books and articles, and the newest freebies and resources to keep the faith.  

Want to know more about me before you sign up? You can read about me HERE and check my books HERE.

Do you want to watch this post as a vlog? Click HERE. If you found it helpful, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thanks!