The Marriage of Ruth
4 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the [a]close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, [b]friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the [c]closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 So I thought to [d]inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if [e]not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” 6 The [f]closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would [g]jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”
There is no substitute or honesty in business dealings, though there is also a place for discretion. Boaz was quite clear in his motive, that he wanted the land if the other kinsman would not redeem it.
But either the kinsman was so hasty that Boaz couldn’t get to it yet, or Boaz held back the trump card, which was that redemption of the land also involved redemption of the bloodline through Ruth.
Either way, Boaz took measures to ensure that this transaction was completely above-board, from disclosing all the details to meeting in public and with elders of the city in attendance.
In all your dealings, be honest, be truthful, and you will be rewarded, even if it seems like you have to take a hit or loss at the time.