“Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty handed” [Ruth 3:17(NIV)]

“Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty handed”. It could be anyone who keeps the family together at home, but in Ruth’s case it was her mother-in-law.
All who know the story are familiar with the way Ruth and her mother-in-law were attached to one another. All living in Bethlehem at the time knew too, and Boaz recognised that this should not be taken for granted.
Neither he nor anyone else could say that it does not matter about Naomi or that she is alright left at home. His “take her something” is the message for all who are tempted to take older members of the family for granted. Ruth’s blessing was going to be Naomi’s, too. She was to nurse the child born to Ruth and Boaz, but that was in the future. So the message is “Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty handed!”