Just because the Torah says people should be charitable does not make us generous.  Outward holding to the letter of a commandment is vastly different from abiding by its spirit.

If our conduct, no matter how noble or philanthropic it appears, does not flow from the love of Christ it cannot be considered morally good.

This is a very difficult "pill" to swallow because we want to be appreciated when we've meant well and especially when we believe we've acted well or improved ourselves.

Self-examination however, the kind of painstaking scrutiny to which we Christians must submit our hearts and minds before receiving the Lord's Supper, uncovers deep seams of vanity every honest penitent cannot ignore.

Improvement is not the goal.  The phrase, "New and Improved" doesn't make sense.  And it is terrible theology.  The Lord does not call anyone to improve.  We are called to His crucifixion and the new life.

I know we upgrade computers and try to enhance performance in many things from cars to cough medicines, but that can't be done with our hearts.  Jesus didn't come to improve us but to become us.  Being a Christian isn't about improving performance.  Christ didn't come to boost up our hearts but replace them with His own.

"I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezek. 11)

When Boaz allowed Ruth to glean from his field and even directed his workers specifically to leave harvested grain for her, he was not merely being lawfully generous or morally decent.  He wasn't acting a more upstanding citizen.  He was Christ to her.  He was a man with the heart and soul of the Savior.

As a little Christ, he veiled his service to her in deference to the spirit of love which cares only for others.  As a little Christ he used wealth, words, and opportunity from no self-interest but only for her advantage.  He gave and this giving was its own joy.

Such love is God in Christ toward you and me.  The whole of Jesus' life and ministry was for us to receive His Kingdom in full.  He welcomes us into his realm and grants us His name, legacy, and largess. 

Like Ruth, we might have been content to receive fragments, but God who gave His only-begotten Son is not satisfied to give little bits and smidgens.  He litters His gifts.  He scatters before us more than our hands can hold or our minds conceive.

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."  (1 John 3:16-18)

The Gospel of Christ alone makes the Christian generous.  This is not an improvement of us but a re-creation.  We are given the very substance of Christ so that we may be as Christ -- as little Christs to others, as Boaz was to favored Ruth.