As a single Christian woman you have definitely heard of Boaz. From women saying “waiting for my Boaz” to women saying “don’t rush for your Boaz”. This immediately was intriguing to me but I hadn’t read my bible so I kind of stuck with the “standard” of Boaz. Once I opened my bible I saw that Boaz was a great protector, a good guy but he didn’t have eyes for Ruth. He saw Ruth for her value but he didn’t particularly show an interest in her for a life partner/wife. How many times have WE settled for some one? How many times have we made ourselves available to a man who we hadn’t got confirmation was even interested in us? MANY TIMES! I know this was a leading reason I kept ending up heartbroken, because I wasn’t chosen, I chose.
Walking through the text I came upon Ruth 2:5 where we can confirm Boaz saw Ruth and inquired about who she was. Ruth 2:5 says ,Then Boaz spoke to his servant who was in charge of the workers He asked, “Whose girl is that?” 6. The servant answered, “She is the Moabite woman who came with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7. She came early this morning and asked me if she could follow the workers and gather the grain that was left on the ground. She rested only a short time in that shelter”. You can read on later but this particular passage showed that Boaz was a good guy, he looked out for Ruth. He admired the woman she was, up early trying to find a way to help her mother in law Naomi.
Once you get into Ruth chapter 3 you can see where Naomi tells Ruth how to get close to Boaz. Keep in mind Boaz is willing to help Ruth, thinks highly of her but he still hasn’t shown a romantic interest in her. Her mother in law, Naomi told her to sit at the feet of Boaz and ask him about marriage. Boaz gives Ruth his word that if the next relative in line will not take her, he will. Now that part right there is where we get to see how the standard of Boaz just doesn’t stand. We know that if you are a great woman, a guy ready for a wife will not pass up on you. He’s not going to risk losing you to someone else because he KNOWS you are worth having. Needless to say, the relative declined because he wanted to keep his own land and didn’t want to risk it. Now that right here speaks volumes because the relative wouldn’t give up his land but Boaz would pass up on such a woman as Ruth? Hmmmmm… The plot thickens.
Boaz does go on to marry Ruth in Ruth Chapter 4 and they even have a son who Ruth gives to Naomi. She knew that Naomi had been given some pain in the loss of husband and sons, so she shared her son with Naomi. Now the thing I have a problem with is, as single Christian women, we are placing ourselves at the feet of men. You know how you have been single for a certain amount of time and you start to go ahead of God? You get sick of having no companionship so you become the flirtatious woman, start approaching men all for the sake of having one? It won’t work because that is not who God has for you. Sure, you can have someone introduce you to a man but if he doesn’t pursue you then he isn’t for you.
In Ruth, I can say she ended up having the happy ending but for single Christian women, you are worth being found. No man should see your value, see what a wonderful servant of God you are but take you on because no one else will. That is an uncomfortable feeling for me, just being man’s pick because there is no one else to have me and he knows I desire marriage so he takes me on? No, I just can’t agree with that, wrap my heart/head around that notion. Boaz was a great demonstration of how a man will cover you, provide for you but in a relationship aspect, I’m not so sure.
As single Christian women,God has a standard for us and if we are obedient, he will bring us a mate. No matter how lonely our nights get, how many years we have to be single, WAIT on God. It might be a struggle but it is so worth it in the end. I’ve been single for 3 years now, I long for marriage, I’m working on my obedience to God but going before his plan just isn’t an option for me. I know that God has someone for me and in his timing, I will be found and be the only pick for him. It might be times I get sad, lonely, frustrated, but I’d rather all those emotions than being a leftover. When you are going through those hard single phases, pray to God and cast your cares upon him. Pour your heart out to God, vent that emotion to him, he is listening.
Iyanni's Mom / Daughter Of Christ 
I found your post while doing a Google search on Boaz and while I found your post very interesting and I get your point (and agree), that we shouldn’t settle for anyone no matter how wonderful and godly who are just “willing” to marry us instead of the man who actively pursues us. I have five brothers and have worked construction (which is largely dominated by men), and they agree that a man goes after what he desires. But your commentary on Boaz is a bit off. In Ruth 3:10 when he tells her that this “kindness (or loyalty), is greater than the first”. Referring to the fact that she placed her loyalty to Naomi and her family in being redeemed to get a husband instead of following her heart in getting a younger husband, Boaz is flattered by the fact that Ruth even wants him (himself being older). I think one of the reasons he did not pursue Ruth is because she was younger and felt perhaps she wanted children and may not see him as a match. We can see his kind heart in telling her I will do as you say, that he’s not a pushy guy so his only wanting to help this exemplary young women was just maybe his seeing her as out of his reach. There are commentaries of the text that agree with me. As a matter of fact I looked them up to see if my reading and understanding of the text was just my understanding of it or was he really happy and flattered by her offer in which she chooses him instead someone else perhaps a younger man rich or poor.
But I agree with you that single women are definitely settling for whoever will cover them. instead of waiting on a Boaz; a guy who is wonderful but just feels you’re out of his league because you are so fly 🙂 or he could be the guy who pursues you God can work it either way.
Because I think she (Ruth), could have had something else young or old but it would not have necessarily been better and God’s hand was definitely in this (knowing Boaz heart and how he wanted Ruth), He moved through Naomi in orchestrating this match. Because we belong to Christ our job is to do what Ruth did, be busy in the kingdom while praying and God will send “our Boaz” meaning the man He has chosen which is the best choice.
Hi Hope,
Wow, you gave me something to consider. Thank you so much for explaining that to me. Yes, these days single ladies are settling. I believe if he is God sent, he won’t think he’s out of your league though. A man God has destined for you will be bold enough to pursue you. Sure, he may be nervous but that won’t keep him away because God would have placed you in his path. I completely agree with you having to be submerged in God’s business for him to bless you to be found. God bless you!