June 17 - Where Did You Work?

Ruth 2:18-19 

She took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied. Her mother-in-law then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz." 

Where do you work? Is it in an office, a factory, a warehouse, a store, or on a farm? I’m retired so I “work” at home. Today is actually Sunday—and I try not to work on the Lord’s day. One of the Ten Commandments is Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy, Exodus 20:8. It is hard to decide what day of the week is our Sabbath. God blessed and sanctified the seventh day because He rested from all His work of creating everything (Genesis 2:3). For centuries the Hebrew people kept the seventh day as their Sabbath, as God commanded Moses in Exodus 23:11. Jesus was resurrected on Sunday, the first day of the week, so most Christians celebrate their Sabbath as Sunday, commemorating Christ’s resurrection day. All that to say, they’ll be no intentional work at my house today, except some basic meal preparation. Life is all about food and we rationalize that meal preparation is not “work” although I have planned ahead and prepared some food in advance.  

It was not Sunday when Ruth was working in Boaz’s field. She labored and proudly presented Naomi with the grain she gleaned. Naomi recognized that Ruth must have been watched out for and provided extra grain since she gathered so much. Where did you work? Naomi wanted to know who had blessed them so that she could offer a blessing for him. 

Are you spiritually blessed? Are you seeking God’s favor everyday—or just on the weekdays, or just on the weekends? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him, from Ephesians 1:3-4. What a spiritual blessing to know that He chose us. Savor that thought—as you would a tasty meal and relish the idea that we are adopted into God’s family. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, you are spiritually blessed. If not then seek Him with all your heart, mind and soul. He is yours for the asking. 

Lord Jesus, thank you for choosing me to be part of your family and for dying for my sins. Wash me and renew my mind that the work and words of my heart and mind would be pleasing to you.  

For supper Ruth and Naomi may have eaten a simple roasted barley salad. 

Roasted Barley Salad

1 3/4 cups pearl barley

5 cups low-salt chicken or vegetable broth

l bay leaf

Salt

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 carrot, cut into 1/2-inch rounds

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried thyme)

1 zucchini, cut 1/2-inch rounds

4 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1/2 pound button mushroom, sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 bunch Italian parsley, minced (about 3/4 cup) or fresh mint, chopped

6 slices cooked crisp bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (omit if vegan or vegetarian)

Toast barley in a saute pan over medium heat until medium brown. In a pot, bring the broth to a boil with the bay leaf and salt. Add toasted barley and cook until tender about 20 minutes. Drain and spread out on cookie sheet to cool.

Saute garlic in olive oil until light brown, add the carrots and thyme. Saute for an additional 1 minute, then add the zucchini and continue to saute for another 30 seconds. Take off the heat. Add vinegar, stir and set aside to cool. Toss the barley with the sliced mushrooms, parsley, carrot mixture and bacon, if desired. Season well with salt and pepper and serve.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.