09/06/2026
WHAT WILL YOUR STRENGTH DO?
“Mighty Strength Can Crush — or Cover.”
TEXT: RUTH 2:1
“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.”
🔥 THE BIG QUESTION
WHAT DOES YOUR STRENGTH DO TO THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU?
Everybody has some kind of strength.
Some have financial strength.
Some have physical strength.
Some have authority.
Some have influence.
Some have intelligence.
Some have position.
Some have experience.
Some have a strong personality.
Some have spiritual maturity.
Some have a voice that people listen to.
But strength is never just about what you have.
Strength is revealed by what you do with what you have.
Because the same strength that can protect somebody can also intimidate somebody.
The same hand that can lift somebody can also push somebody down.
The same authority that can cover somebody can also crush somebody.
1. BOAZ HAD POWER — BUT HE DIDN'T USE IT TO MAKE HIMSELF BIG
Ruth 2:1 introduces Boaz as a “mighty man.”
That means Ruth is not walking into the field of some weak, insignificant man.
Boaz has resources.
Boaz has standing.
Boaz has reputation.
Boaz has authority.
Boaz has servants.
Boaz has property.
Boaz has influence.
BOAZ HAS STRENGTH.
But the miracle of Boaz is not merely that he possesses strength.
The miracle is that his strength becomes a blessing to someone weaker than himself.
That's the difference between power and character.
2. STRENGTH CAN CRUSH OR COVER
This is the central thought of the sermon.
STRENGTH WITHOUT CHARACTER BECOMES DANGEROUS.
A strong person can make weak people afraid.
Or...
A strong person can make weak people feel safe.
SAME STRENGTH — DIFFERENT PURPOSE.
Your strength can be used to:
CRUSH OR COVER.
HURT OR HEAL.
INTIMIDATE OR ENCOURAGE.
CONTROL OR SERVE.
EXPLOIT OR PROTECT.
TAKE OR GIVE.
PUSH DOWN OR PULL UP.
USE PEOPLE OR HELP PEOPLE.
MAKE PEOPLE SMALL OR HELP PEOPLE STAND TALL.
3. THE STRONGEST PEOPLE ARE NOT ALWAYS THE LOUDest PEOPLE
Boaz doesn't have to announce:
“I'M THE MIGHTY MAN AROUND HERE!”
His character speaks for him.
Real strength doesn't need constant advertisement.
Real strength doesn't have to dominate every conversation.
Real strength doesn't need to humiliate weaker people.
Real strength doesn't have to prove itself by making somebody else feel small.
YOU DON'T PROVE HOW BIG YOU ARE BY MAKING SOMEBODY ELSE LOOK SMALL.
Boaz's greatness is revealed by how he treats Ruth.
4. YOUR STRENGTH REVEALS ITSELF IN HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BENEFIT YOU
This is where the sermon gets uncomfortable.
Ruth isn't walking into Boaz's field with power.
She's a widow.
She's a foreigner.
She's poor.
She's vulnerable.
She has no obvious leverage over Boaz.
She cannot make Boaz richer.
She cannot improve his social position.
She cannot give him political influence.
She cannot repay him for his kindness.
And yet...
BOAZ TREATS HER WITH DIGNITY.
That's character.
WATCH HOW PEOPLE TREAT THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER THEM.
That's often where you discover what is really inside a person.
5. STRENGTH SHOULD MAKE THE WEAK FEEL SAFE — NOT SMALL
Boaz could have used his position to intimidate Ruth.
Instead, his presence eventually becomes a place of protection.
He tells his workers not to mo**st her.
He tells her to stay in his field.
He makes sure she has access to water.
He protects her from harassment.
He instructs the workers to leave extra grain for her.
WHY?
Because Boaz understands something:
WHEN GOD GIVES YOU POWER, HE EXPECTS YOU TO USE IT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LESS POWER THAN YOU.
6. CONTRAST: CRUSH OR COVER
CRUSH
“I have power, so you better watch yourself.”
COVER
“I have power, so you don't have to be afraid.”
CRUSH
“I can destroy you.”
COVER
“I can protect you.”
CRUSH
“I'll use my position against you.”
COVER
“I'll use my position for you.”
CRUSH
“I'll make you feel small.”
COVER
“I'll help you stand.”
7. CONTRAST: HURT OR HEAL
Some people walk into a room and everybody gets nervous.
Other people walk into a room and everybody breathes easier.
WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU?
Your words can hurt.
Or your words can heal.
Your authority can wound.
Or your authority can restore.
Your correction can humiliate.
Or your correction can help.
Your criticism can destroy.
Or your wisdom can repair.
DON'T JUST ASK, “AM I RIGHT?”
Ask:
“WHAT IS MY RIGHTNESS DOING TO PEOPLE?”
8. CONTRAST: INTIMIDATE OR ENCOURAGE
Boaz had every reason to make Ruth feel like an outsider.
Instead, he speaks to her.
He notices her.
He acknowledges her.
He blesses her.
He encourages her.
SOME PEOPLE USE THEIR STRENGTH TO MAKE PEOPLE AFRAID.
GODLY PEOPLE USE THEIR STRENGTH TO MAKE PEOPLE STRONGER.
That's a huge difference.
9. CONTRAST: CONTROL OR SERVE
Power can create control freaks.
“DO WHAT I SAY BECAUSE I HAVE THE AUTHORITY.”
But biblical strength asks:
“HOW CAN I USE WHAT GOD GAVE ME TO SERVE SOMEBODY ELSE?”
Boaz has servants.
But he doesn't become a tyrant.
He has resources.
But he doesn't become selfish.
He has status.
But he doesn't become arrogant.
THE TEST OF POWER IS NOT WHETHER YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE.
THE TEST OF POWER IS WHETHER YOU CAN SERVE PEOPLE.
10. CONTRAST: EXPLOIT OR PROTECT
Ruth is vulnerable.
That means Boaz has an opportunity.
He could exploit her vulnerability.
Instead, he protects her.
And this is one of the strongest lessons in the chapter:
GODLY STRENGTH DOES NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VULNERABILITY.
It protects vulnerability.
It respects vulnerability.
It covers vulnerability.
It gives vulnerable people room to recover.
11. CONTRAST: TAKE OR GIVE
The selfish person asks:
“WHAT CAN I GET FROM YOU?”
The godly person asks:
“WHAT CAN I GIVE YOU?”
Boaz isn't looking at Ruth and thinking:
“How can I take advantage of this situation?”
His actions demonstrate:
“How can I make this woman's situation better?”
That's what strength is supposed to do.
12. CONTRAST: PUSH DOWN OR PULL UP
Some people climb the ladder and then pull the ladder up behind them.
Boaz does the opposite.
He has something Ruth needs.
And he makes room for her to receive it.
IF GOD HAS PUT YOU AHEAD, DON'T USE YOUR POSITION TO KEEP EVERYBODY ELSE BEHIND.
Use it to pull somebody forward.
If you've got knowledge—
TEACH SOMEBODY.
If you've got resources—
HELP SOMEBODY.
If you've got influence—
OPEN A DOOR FOR SOMEBODY.
If you've got experience—
GUIDE SOMEBODY.
If you've got strength—
LIFT SOMEBODY.
13. GOD DOESN'T BLESS YOU JUST TO MAKE YOU IMPRESSIVE
This is where we have to challenge our definition of blessing.
We often think:
“God blessed me because now I have more.”
But perhaps the bigger question is:
“WHY DID GOD GIVE ME MORE?”
Maybe God gave you more so somebody else could have more.
Maybe God gave you influence so you could speak for somebody who doesn't have a voice.
Maybe God gave you resources so you could help somebody who is struggling.
Maybe God gave you strength because somebody else is weak.
BLESSING IS NOT JUST WHAT YOU RECEIVE.
BLESSING IS WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH WHAT YOU RECEIVE.
14. BOAZ'S FIELD BECAME A PLACE OF PROVISION
Ruth goes into the field because she needs food.
She is looking for leftovers.
But she doesn't know what God is about to do.
She thinks she's just looking for grain.
God is preparing a relationship.
She thinks she's gathering leftovers.
God is preparing abundance.
She thinks she's entering a field.
God is moving her toward redemption.
SHE WALKED INTO A FIELD LOOKING FOR GRAIN AND WALKED INTO THE BEGINNING OF HER REDEMPTION STORY.
That's powerful.
15. THE FIELD WAS NOT JUST A PLACE WHERE BOAZ HAD SOMETHING.
IT WAS A PLACE WHERE BOAZ COULD DO SOMETHING.
There's a difference.
You can have money without mercy.
You can have authority without compassion.
You can have influence without integrity.
You can have strength without wisdom.
You can have resources without generosity.
**THE QUESTION IS NOT ONLY WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH YOUR HAND.**
16. JESUS IS THE ULTIMATE PICTURE OF STRENGTH USED FOR THE WEAK
Boaz points us toward a greater Redeemer.
Jesus had all authority.
Yet He served.
Jesus had power.
Yet He touched the untouchable.
Jesus had glory.
Yet He humbled Himself.
Jesus had every right to condemn.
Yet He came to save.
Jesus had strength.
Yet He gave Himself for the weak.
THE CROSS IS THE GREATEST PICTURE OF POWER BEING USED TO SAVE INSTEAD OF DESTROY.
The strongest One became the servant.
The One who could have called legions of angels chose the cross.
The One who had all authority laid down His life.
**HE DIDN'T USE HIS POWER TO CRUSH US.
HE USED HIS POWER TO REDEEM US.**
🔥 17. NOW ASK YOURSELF: WHAT IS YOUR STRENGTH DOING?
Your strength at home—
Does it crush or cover?
Your strength at work—
Does it intimidate or encourage?
Your position—
Does it control or serve?
Your words—
Do they hurt or heal?
Your money—
Does it make you selfish or generous?
Your knowledge—
Does it make you arrogant or useful?
Your influence—
Does it elevate yourself or help somebody else?
Your spiritual maturity—
Does it make you judgmental or compassionate?
Your experience—
Does it make you cynical or helpful?
18. DON'T WASTE THE STRENGTH GOD GAVE YOU
Maybe God gave you strength because somebody else needs shelter.
Maybe God gave you wisdom because somebody else needs direction.
Maybe God gave you resources because somebody else needs provision.
Maybe God gave you influence because somebody else needs a door opened.
Maybe God gave you courage because somebody else is afraid.
Maybe God gave you a testimony because somebody else needs hope.
YOUR STRENGTH MAY BE THE ANSWER TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S WEAKNESS.
Don't bury it.
Don't abuse it.
Don't waste it.
USE IT.
🔥 FINAL CLIMAX
Ruth 2:1 says:
“A mighty man.”
But Scripture doesn't stop with:
“He was mighty.”
The story shows us what his might did.
His strength became protection.
His resources became provision.
His position became opportunity.
His field became a place of blessing.
His influence became a covering.
THAT'S WHAT GODLY STRENGTH LOOKS LIKE.
Not:
“LOOK HOW STRONG I AM.”
But:
“BECAUSE GOD MADE ME STRONG, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID.
