The word gentleness is taken from the Greek word CHRESTOTES, meaning, “usefulness, i.e. moral excellence (in character or demeanor): kindness.”[1] This is where I draw my inspiration for the title of this chapter. Gentleness can be easily overlooked, but I think you do yourself a disservice if you do. Being gentle is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it portrays moral excellence.
Your demeanor speaks louder than your words. Once, when my bride was helping to critique me, she said, “Have you watched yourself in the mirror when you talk?” Of course I hadn’t, but what she was pointing out, was that my demeanor wasn’t matching what I was saying. I wasn’t coming across as gentle. So, in keeping with my bride’s excellent question, let me ask you the same: does your demeanor match what you’re saying? Are you a gentle giant or just a giant? Do you come across as demanding and overbearing, or do others feel secure in their relationship with you?
Gentleness also means, “an event or activity which is useful or benevolent: that which is useful.”[2] Benevolence is noble. You should strive to be kind, showing yourself useful. Ask yourself the question, “Is what I’m doing useful to others?” Some just look upon the poor and remark that something needs to be done; others do what needs to be done.
To be kind means, “of a sympathetic or helpful nature: of a forbearing nature: GENTLE: arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance.”[3]
The story of Ruth presents a beautiful picture of what gentleness and all its synonyms mean. Ruth is a part of the lineage of Jesus Christ, and is the great-grandmother of King David, but more important than her credentials is her bearing the fruit of gentleness.
Ruth is from the country of Moab, but marries a Hebrew man who has come to live in Moab from Bethlehem. However, her husband dies and she becomes a widow. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, is going to return to her home in Bethlehem and advises Ruth to stay behind. However, Ruth makes a choice to stay with Naomi, leaving behind her own family in Moab.
Ruth’s words are the words of true kindness – “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death separates us.”[4] Naomi was overcome by this show of kindness from her daughter-in-law, but welcomed her to come.
Realizing that Naomi is too old to work, Ruth becomes a gleaner in the fields to bring home enough grain to eat each day.[5] Ruth’s motives are solely to provide for her and Naomi, but what she doesn’t realize is that God has a reward for her kindness. Ruth is gleaning in the field of Boaz who happens to be Naomi’s brother-in-law, and according to their custom, he is to become the “kinsman redeemer” marrying Ruth to preserve the family name. This is how Ruth finds her place in the lineage of Jesus Christ: after her marriage to Boaz, Ruth gives birth to Obed. Obed becomes the father of Jesse who becomes the father of David who becomes the King that is a man after God’s own heart. Matthew’s gospel even lists Ruth in the “line-up” of Christ’s lineage.[6] Ruth’s kindness is a perfect picture of the fruit of gentleness.
[1] Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (#5544)
[2] Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain (#5544)
[3] Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary
[4] Ruth 1:16-17
[5] Ruth 2:2
[6] Matthew 1:5
