Reputations should be built on past acts of grace - Ruth

When Ruth came to the field of Boaz she did so because they needed food. Ruth had lost her husband and Ruth had lost her husband, Naomi's son. Ruth could have sat around and acted bitter (like Naomi) and waited to die or for a handout. But, instead, she went to work, if only to find a little barley left from those who were gleaning. Boaz sees her and in 2:11 tells her she can glean all she wants in his field. He does this because he had "heard" of all the good that Ruth had done for Naomi. Ruth had a reputation for hard work, charitable acts of kindness and a great commitment to follow hard after God. When character is within the heart a repuation is established in the eyes of others. Naomi wanted to be called Mara, which means "bitter." Her reputation was that "bad things" happened to her. That is what she was known for and wanted to be known for. Ruth, on the other hand, had a passion for life despite her circumstances and was willing to re-frame them and not assume that the past was a constraint on the future. Ruth was able to overcome circumstances because she understood the character and person of God and His bigger purpose for her and Boaz. They eventually become the grandparents of David; Christ would come from this line. God can use past circumstances for His honor and glory.