We already observed that Boaz was a man of standing. Who he was on the inside influenced all we can see on the outside. In the remaining issues of this series we will look more closely at five actions of serving that illustrate his heart and character. First, we’ll look closely at how Boaz treated others.  

We often judge a leader by his/her accomplishments. What did they do? What goals were reached? What actions were taken? These are valid questions, but Boaz calls serving leaders to use different standards for measurement. Let’s look more closely at how Boaz treated several groups of people and what serving leaders can learn from his example.  

Serving leaders treat their workers well. 

 ⁴ Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!” “The Lord bless you!” they answered (Ruth 2:4, NIV). These are the first words we hear from Boaz, words of greeting. His first words were of blessing and affirmation, showing his respect and relationship with them. He was the boss, the owner, the employer, the founder of the enterprise. But Boaz didn’t check their production level before he connected with their hearts. And their response showed that the respect was mutual. Many workers look away when the boss appears, fearing his reprimand or disapproval. Boaz teaches serving leaders that treating workers well is the best approach to relationships. Treating people well will also lead to better production! But serving leaders treat their workers well, not because of any anticipated results, but because it is the right thing to do!  

Serving leaders treat strangers well. 

⁵ Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?” ⁶ The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi.  ⁸ So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. ⁹ Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.” (Ruth 2:5-6, 8-9). At this point in the story Ruth is a stranger to Boaz, a person he has never met. Some leaders would ignore the stranger. Others might make sure the stranger is removed from the property. But Boaz takes time to find out who she is and then promptly finds a way to serve her! He does not seek to bring her into his team to accomplish his goals; he finds a way to help her meet her goals. Serving leaders see strangers as new opportunities to serve!  

Serving leaders treat their family well. 

Near the end of the story of Ruth we get a glimpse of how Boaz interacted with his extended family. ¹ Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down (Ruth 4:1).  

In many ways, this relative was a competitor. As the guardian-redeemer he had first claim over the land of Naomi and the widow Ruth whom Boaz now wanted to marry. But Boaz calls him “my friend….” They have an amicable discussion which ends in Boaz being blessed to marry Ruth. Boaz serves his family well by avoiding a division of relationships. He balances his own interests with those of his family and everyone leaves on friendly terms. Serving leaders treat their families well honoring the relationships above their own interests.  

For further reflection and discussion: 

• Skim the four chapters of Ruth looking for other indications of how Boaz treated people. What do you observe? In what way can you learn from his example?  
• What happens in my leadership space when I arrive? Do people welcome my presence or look away? How can I focus on those I lead as people rather than objects to accomplish my vision?  
• How do I tend to view strangers? Do I see them as distractions? As potential helpers for me? Or, do I see them as new opportunities to serve? What stranger have I met in the last week and what might God invite me to do to serve them?  
• Read again the account of how Boaz, a single man, interacted with his extended family in Ruth 4:1-12. What more do you learn from his example?  Why might it have been hard for Boaz who was eager to get married to treat his potential rival respectfully? Who in my family do I struggle to serve? What can I do this week to honor them?  

Until next time, yours on the journey, 

Jon Byler 

In the next issue, we’ll examine how Boaz served by honoring the weak.  

The next instruction Paul gives young Timothy about the type of leaders who are worthy to be called servant leaders is "hospitable" (1 Timothy 3:2). To be hospitable is to be friendly and welcoming to strangers or guests. What in the world does what happens at home have to do with leadership? Paul recognizes that hospitality reveals at least three things in the heart of a leader, each of which is essential for servant leaders.

Hospitality displays a willingness to be transparent.

Inviting someone to your home is a risky act of vulnerability! The moment you open your door to a guest and invite them into your home, they learn to know you on a much deeper level than they ever will in public. They will observe the way that you interact with your wife and children. They will notice what books and magazines you read. They will get a sense of your values as they interact with you at home. If you are not willing to be transparent, limit your leadership to the office or public arena! It's much easier to hide who you really are in public than at home.

Hospitality demonstrates a heart of service.

Hospitality is a lot of work! Even if it is only a simple meal, hospitality involves preparation, cleaning, washing dishes, and then focusing on the needs and desires of the visitors. If your visitors stay in your home overnight or for a longer period of time, hospitality may involve moving children around to make room for the visitors, preparing beds, changing your morning schedule and cleaning after they leave. If you don't have the heart of a servant, don't bring people home! It's much easier to meet them in a restaurant or café and have a meal together.

Hospitality discloses a spirit of generosity.

Hospitality is costly. It will cost you the time that it takes to prepare, entertain, and serve. It will also cost money, likely spending more for food to prepare a special meal or at least sharing what you have. Generosity is not so much a matter of how much you possess but how much you are willing to release. Some of the most generous people I know have very little materially, but are rich in generosity and they express it by sharing freely what they have. If you're not willing to share, don't invite people to your home! It's much easier to keep than to give.

A biblical example of a servant leader who demonstrated hospitality is the account of Simon, the Tanner. Luke records the story of how this worker in a despised vocation hosted the apostle Peter in his home for "many days" (Acts 9:43). We have no idea how many meals were served to Peter during this time, but we do know that he not only enjoyed the bedroom and the kitchen of Simon the Tanner, but he also had access to the roof where he went to pray. What is more, one day three total strangers showed up and Peter, himself a guest, invited them in for the night! Another meal and three more beds! (How would you respond to that kind of a guest?) We know nothing else of Simon's faith, leadership, or academic credentials. But when he opened his door to Peter, God opened the door of faith to the Gentile world! Simon passed the quality checklist for a servant leader because of his hospitality. Peter was likely remembering him when he wrote later, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9). How do you rate in this hidden area of leadership? Take some time to reflect on the questions below….and invite someone to your home today!

For further reflection and discussion:

• When is the last time you invited someone to your home for a meal? To spend the night? Do you find hospitality easy or difficult?
• What is the hardest for you in relation to hospitality: transparency, service or generosity? Spend a moment asking God to reveal to you what He wants to change in this area.
• How does your culture encourage or discourage hospitality? What can you do as a follower of Jesus to cultivate His culture in your home?
• Reflect on Hebrews 13:2. How is God inviting you to respond in obedience?

We usually think of leadership as what we do with others outside our homes, in the church or in our work environment. But the list of leadership qualities Paul gives to Timothy says leaders “must be hospitable.” (Titus 1:8). Hospitality? It almost sounds like a foreign word! What does hosting people in our homes have to do with servant leadership?

Hospitality reveals a love for others.

Inviting someone to my home shows that I am focusing on that person instead of myself. I am thinking of them and expressing my love for them by considering something that will, hopefully, benefit them! When people visit, a good host focuses on their needs and graciously seeks to make them comfortable. Leading in public can often be about me and my agenda, but hospitality is about showing love to the guest. This focus on the needs of the other is an excellent way to develop people skills and learn to relate to a variety of personalities in a relaxed setting. Introverted personalities, like me, learn to keep a conversation going by asking good questions! Servant leaders love others.

Hospitality demonstrates a heart of giving.

Showing hospitality is all about giving, not receiving. Of course, I often receive blessings from visitors, but hospitality is costly! We may spend a bit more on food than normal to provide a nice meal. But it’s not only money that we give. We take time to make a meal and clean afterwards, make beds or wash extra clothes. We give up our routines to accommodate their schedules. Sometimes it costs sleep as we stay up late to talk. We may need to catch up later on things we needed to do. Hospitality requires giving and servant leaders give.

Hospitality exhibits vulnerability.

Inviting people into my home is an act of self disclosure. When people come to my home they see a very different part of my life from what they see when I teach or preach. At home they see me relaxed and watch how I relate to my children and my wife. They observe what we have hanging on our walls and what magazines are lying on the coffee table. If they stay overnight they find out what time I go to bed and what I eat for breakfast! Sitting around the table with a cup of tea provides a much different perspective than meeting in an office or a public event. Inviting visitors is risky. They might spill coffee on the carpet or break a prized item. Servant leaders are vulnerable.

Don’t just evaluate your leadership by what you do in public; serve others at home by offering hospitality. When is the last time you invited someone to your home? Do it…and grow as a servant leader.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon

For further reflection and discussion:

• Am I eager to invite people to my home? Why or why not?
• Do others feel welcomed in my home?
• Is hospitality more difficult for people from cultures that value time over relationships?
• Is hospitality easier for some personalities than others? If so, what can be done to respond to the biblical challenge?