There are many stories in the Bible, where God's plan relies on God's people fulfilling their duty, whether reluctantly or confidently, and this includes our story today. And there are many, many other examples, starting with Jesus himself in the garden of Gethsemane, resolving to be put to death on the cross. Jonah, preaching to the people of Ninevah....eventually! The prophets, warning the people of God's displeasure, at the cost of their own lives. The virgin Mary, telling God to make it so. But there is another story mentioned in passing in our readings today, an exception that proves the rule. And that is the story of Perez, the patriarch listed at the top of the family tree at the end of the book of Ruth, and an ancestor of Boaz. To refresh your memory from Genesis 38, Judah, son of Israel, acquired a wife for his first born son Er, and her name was Tamar. Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. So, according to the Levirate system of marriage, Judah wanted his second son Onan to take Tamar as his wife and provide an heir for Er, and Im, but Onan refused, and the Lord killed him too. Judah then promised to give Tamar his third son Shelah as her husband, as soon as he was old enough. But when that time came and went without Judah fulfilling his promise and doing his duty, Tamar went to where Judah was, disguised herself as a prostitute, took in Judah as a customer, and conceived. She bore twin sons for Judah himself, and the first one to emerge was Perez. Maybe the elders, blessing Boaz for having a child with a woman the age of a daughter-in-law, were encouraging him with the reference to Perez, that by doing it ON PURPOSE, AS HIS DUTY, the Lord would certainly bless his offspring, at least as much as Perez. And that is the case, for his offspring will be given God's promise of the throne of Israel for all time....
As soon as Boaz woke up on the threshing floor with Ruth at his feet, Boaz indeed saw taking Ruth as his wife, and creating an heir for Mahlon, as his duty, as next-of-kin. And Boaz did his duty confidently, promptly, and with compassion – sending Ruth home with additional grain for Naomi BEFORE her reputation could be tarnished for being on the threshing floor, and resolving her redemption early the next day.
Ruth, also, did her duty confidently and enthusiastically, even at the risk of tarnishing her reputation and risking rejection, and even at the price of having a husband twice her age. Boaz remarks on the great loyalty behind her decision, which, of course, is the primary motivation for doing one's duty.
Here in 2026, duty is a four-letter word. No one is interested in the concept of duty today, because the relationships which use to inspire loyalty, are in societal decline: marriage, parenting, employment, citizenship, church membership. To think that someone would get married out of a sense of duty today, is preposterous – the age of the shotgun wedding has been over for decades, and the age of the wedding itself is winding down! To think that someone would have a child out of a sense of duty today, duty to the family or to humanity, that's ridiculous, children are expensive! The main duty of the employee is now to find a better employer, and the main duty of the employer is now to find a better employee – loyalty is in the realm of nostalgia. And we would NEVER use the word duty anywhere near the topic of church participation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.“ However, works accomplished from a sense of loyalty, are often crucial for the furthering of God's plan.