The Reward of Loyalty
Ruth: A Story of Redemption • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Intro
Intro
While I love stories; I don’t love “love” stories
Not my cup of tea; seem to set up some pretty unrealistic expectations!
The book of Ruth certainly didn’t begin as a romance
Chapter 1 was a tragedy! Naomi lost her husband and both sons, and one daughter-in-law left as well
Just Ruth remained, and they returned to Naomi’s home in Bethlehem desitute and uncertain
How could romance possibly enter the picture?
The Story
The Story
Introducing: Boaz (Ruth 2:1)
A relative of Elimelech (Naomi’s late husband)
Not a close relative; we are talking extended family (almost like a clan)
He is said to be a “worthy"man
Names are important!
Refer to Eli’s assingment and my name = manly
Boaz = strength
Hebrew word for worthy = mighty of wealth
Boaz was a prominent landowner and was well off
More than just wealthy; that term can mean strong in character; strong in reputation; strong in courage/valour
As we learn more about Boaz, we see that all these things are true (“worthy”)
Ruth decides to glean from a field during barley season
Read Ruth 2:2.
Ruth is hopeful that she might find favour in the sight of someone who will have mercy on her and Naomi
Even after all that has happened, here is optimism and hope
She gleaned in the field after the reapers
Gleaning was a practice commanded by God to look after the marginalized
Cf. Lev. 19:9-10.
“The margins are for the marginalized”
Ruth found herself gleaning in the field of Boaz
“She happened” to come to the field of Boaz
Hebrew tongue-in-cheek saying; really points to God’s providence
It also just so happened that Boaz came from Bethlehem to visit his field
His greeting to his workers shows he is a man of faith
Read Ruth 2:4.
Likely a somewhat standard greeting, but we see it nowhere else
Ruth IMMEDIATELY catches his eye
Read Ruth 2:5-7.
Ruth would have stood out because she was new and he didn’t recognize her
But it is almost certain that she caught his eye for her beauty as well
God has brought Ruth and Boaz to the same field at the same time, and a budding romance begins in our story
Boaz was an older man, but single (likely quite the eligible bachelor)
Ruth was younger, beautiful.... but had absolutely nothing to give
She was a foreigner, homeless, gleaning the fields, attached to a bitter old woman
Still, Boaz approaches Ruth and shows how “worthy” of a man he is
Read Ruth 2:8-9.
He asks Ruth to stay and glean on his field only
Gives her preferential treatment by allowing her to keep close to those reaping (getting better results), offering safety and security from the men working the field, and inviting her to drink the same water as the servants (thirsty work)
Ruth falls down to the ground out of honest gratitude
Read Ruth 2:10.
Remember, she has nothing to offer Boaz! She is widowed, homeless, hungry and only has a bitter mother-in-law for company. Why is Boaz doing this?
Boaz’s response is incredible
Read Ruth 2:11-12.
He has heard of Naomi… and of Ruth (Bethlehem was buzzing)
He is impressed at her loyalty to Naomi, and that she was willing to pay the price of loyalty by leaving her family, her land and coming to a foreign place
A “worthy” man recognizes a “worthy” woman (game recognize game)
Then he prays for her a prayer of blessing
Ruth responds that she has found favour in his eyes, just as she hoped to do at the beginning of the chapter (Read Ruth 2:13)
The Lesson
The Lesson
God providentially cares for you
His fingerprints are all over the details of this story:
Ruth “happened” to find herself on the field of Boaz
Who “happened” to choose that exact moment to visit his field
Where he “happened” to take notice of Ruth
Who “happened” to find favour in the eyes of Boaz… just as she prayed for
I don’t believe in happenstance; I believe in God’s providence
This type of security provided by God’s providence is described as being “under his wings”
Boaz prayed for it (v. 12); Psalms later used this imagery too
Cf. Psalm 36:7-9.
Picture is of a baby bird kept safe and sound in the nest by a mother bird
True for Ruth, and true for you
God can care for you in the same way he cared for Ruth
Bring you to the right place at the right time; meet the right people; hear the right piece of advice; get offered the right job; so many ways
Tell the story of my djembe -> Once Lost -> Karen
While there is a price to loyalty, there is also a reward to loyalty
Last week, the focus was on the price that Ruth paid to “cling to” Naomi
Gave up her family, home, hope of remarrying; took on uncertainty, poverty, and a strange people in a strange land
For better or for worse, Ruth was committed to Naomi
This week, the price she paid was the EXACT reason she was rewarded for her loyalty
Re-read Ruth 2:11.
It is not just that there are some good times and some bad times, but that we are able to reap the benefits of loyalty precisely BECAUSE we paid the price
Years of healthy marriage in examples of my Dad and Al Heinrichs; we receive much out of relationships when we give much
Prayer is a combination of request and action
One other lesson we briefly touched on last Sunday was the power of prayer
It’s not the only thing we can do; it is powerful and effective
Boaz believed this, and he prayed for Ruth
Re-read Ruth 2:12.
Boaz didn’t JUST pray, he was willing to be part of the answer to that prayer
He started “repaying” Ruth by giving her special gleaning priveleges (they wouldn’t go hungry), access to water (wouldn’t go thirsty) and the guarantee of these things throughout the harvest (level of security)
We should ALWAYS ask how we can be an answer to someone’s prayer
Talk about the “empty” notion of “thoughts and prayers” after a mass shooting
Move to the empty “I will pray for you” Christian nicety
Make sure you pray, and then think of a way to be part of the answer:
Someone is struggling with mental health, give them your time
Someone is recovering from surgery or just had a baby, give them food
Someone just lost a loved one, give them your comfort (and food);
Talk about Bill going to as many funerals as possible
Someone just lost their job, give them some money to help make ends meet
Someone is being bullied at school, stick up for them (at risk of social standing)
Someone is overwhelmed with parenting, offer to babysit!
So many other examples!
Refer to Lillis’ idea for the “sharing fence” she shared last week
What are you praying for? Now, how can you be part of that answer?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Because Ruth was willing to pay the price of loyalty, she also reaped the reward of loyalty
God cared for her in His providence, brought her to Boaz
Who was willing to be part of the answer to his prayer for her
God sees what you are doing for others
There is refuge under his wings for you
Others will recognize this as well and be part of God’s providence in your life
Pray