Dedication Produces Favor After Famine

A place of diminished returns. 

If you think about it in terms of stocks, you make the initial investment and you watch the rate of return. Returns go up and down, it’s all a part of the process. But sometimes, the downs stay low so long until your returns get smaller and smaller. Then you realize your potential for profit is fading away. It is “diminishing” and that is what I like to call “diminishing returns”. You can survive that place by being flexible and listening to the Holy Spirit for how you are to adjust. Just like in Ruth 2:5-13, Naomi’s diminishing returns in Moab caused her to return back to her homeland and of course, Ruth decides to go with her. Her decision had no ulterior motive but simple love and devotion. 

Boaz had survived the years of famine to the point he still had employees working his land. Boaz noticed Ruth’s work ethic first. He was then told that she as Naomi’s daughter-in-law. He tells Ruth the expanse of how she may work in his field. He is generous towards Ruth. Now Ruth has no idea of his relationship to Naomi nor can she understand why he is being so kind to her. If you are good to one of God’s, the Lord is going to pay you back. 

If you take care of God’s people, God will reward you richly. That’s why half of these heathens have so much mainly because they turn round and they take their blessings and they are generous to those who needed it the most. Who needs it the most? Christians. When you thought that nobody was paying attention when you were frustrated but you kept doing it anyway because you have love on the inside of you, you have dedication inside of you, I’m going to tell you by the words of the Almighty God that a blessing is on the way to repay you for taking care of his people. God is getting ready to richly reward you. Why? because you were dedicated when things were bad. When there was a diminishing return. 

God is getting ready to turn around and bless you richly. 

The bible says that the Lord will repay. The bible isn’t big on handouts. The bible says if you want people to eat, you teach them how to fish. He is a rewarder. God pays you and thats why the bible says “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”. Begin to work for God because God always pays. Who’s ready to get paid? You need to make that declaration. “I decree and declare that the Lord will repay me”. You’re not threatening God, you’re just putting His word into action. 

Even if you have your down days, I want to challenge you to get up and look around and see where you made some good investments. You need to be careful as you are investing in people. I learned this the hard way. You need to invest in people where it is a mutual exchange. When its just a one way – that’s a problem. You won’t think its a problem until you get into a place of diminishing returns, when you get into a place of famine. When you are investing in somebody, you need to take a big, bold look to make sure that they are investing back in you. 

It was difficult for the both of them. But God! The Lord was about to completely change both of their lives. The blessings upon their lives didn’t happen just because Naomi returned home. It was put into motion due to Ruth’s determination towards Naomi. 

God is going to pour out rewards to you to the degree of being described as “Richly”. Why? because the Lord is a rewarder and He especially rewards dedication. 

Boaz spoke blessing over Ruth without realizing that God was going to use him to be the vehicle which the blessing manifested. God has prepared people to be the vehicle by which the blessing you need will be manifested. There is favor from God on the other side of the place called diminishing returns. 

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