We learned about two stories in Shoftim to teach us about the time period that Rut took place. The Jews at this time were not very religious. They mixed with society because they didn't have any centeral leadership to tell them that they needed to stay with G-d. They weren't religious people, but they were still associated with Judaism. They knew basic traditions of Judaism but would often distort the way they did them. They went with the local customs and did what they thought was moral in their eyes. The morals were skewed because they didn't know when was too much to integrate into society. They got carried away, and there was no one to tell them to stop. So now their religious values are skewed.  

In the first Perek we see the corruption in Naomi's family. Some say that Naomi's family was actually wealthy and ran away from Beit Lechem because they didn't want to share their wealth with the poor and starving. They took the religious values about helping others out and replaced them with the individualistic ideas from society. 

There was one person who didn't let society change her morals. Everything Rut did was moral and was to help people (even sleeping with Boaz). She was extremely selfless, and she wasn't even Jewish. She did everything in the interest of the people around her. For example she insisted on accompanying Naomi back to Beit Lechem. There was nothing for her in Beit Lechem. She was moving away from her home and family. They were going to Beit Lechem where she wouldn't find a husband of her culture. But she didn't want any of that. She wanted to follow Naomi and help her through her hard times. 

She also sacrificed her love life to continue her dead husband's name. She could have married someone younger and someone she loved, but she knew what was important in life. She put her wants aside and did what was best in the end and for the entire community. This is true chesed. We have a lot to learn from Rut and her intense kindness.