Gleaning in the Fringes
Advent Series • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsA willingness to work the fringe and finance it.
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Introduction:
This second chapter of Ruth is pivotal as it brings us to the character of Messiah, and the Christian’s obligation to Christ.
Understanding the birth of Christ requires us to ask why He came.
The answer to that question is anything other than simplistic.
One could say that He came to die to set us free, and that would be correct.
However, Is that all there is to the answer, is there not more to it than stated?
Much more!
For we must speak about the Christian’s responsibility, obligation, work, character, and faithfulness.
All of which comes under the banner of “Freedom in Christ”.
Background:
Ruth was faithful to honor her mother in law working a job that was a little above a beggar.
Ruth was faithful to honor her mother in law working a job that was a little above a beggar.
She worked all day from sun up til sundown.
She was willing to do what she had to do in order to out food on the table.
Our society judges the value of people according to their job or status.
I believe we as Christians also fall prey to this mindset.
And so because of this, we judge ourselves above working in the fringes.
Boaz was faithful to honor God by going beyond the law. Boaz was a type of Jesus.
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Jesus came for all, both rich and poor, but He gave special audience at His birth, to some low esteemed shepherds.
He touched the lepers!
Went to the homes of sinners and the undesirable!
Spoke highly of the Samaritans, and reached out to many!
Gleaning is a term that means to harvest or gather. It is a Biblical term that provides for the poor and must be provided by the rich.
There are certain criteria that must be followed:
during the harvest, the reapers are to leave the fringes untouched.
they are not to prevent the poor from taking what is in the fringe.
they also need to allow the poor to follow behind them in the field, taking what was left after the first pass.
Gleaning in the fringe requires two things:
Gleaning in the fringe requires two things:
I. Willingness to work in it.
I. Willingness to work in it.
Ruth was not above her circumstances, and gleaning was not beneath her.
When Christians refuse to work in the fringes, they fail to realize God’s blessings.
We are not satisfied, even in ministry, with meager results, especially when we invest a lot of energy.
This is one reason why we don’t like working the fringe.
We want the big results, the big blessings, explosive financial coffers, people running into the church by the droves!
We want to ride in the wagon of success bringing in the big harvest, and let someone else work the fringe.
My friends, the wagon belongs to God, and the harvest is His!
You and I like Ruth, need to work in the fringe!
And we need to be satisfied with a handful of barley, even if we have to break our backs to get it!
This is the proper Biblical perspective for every area of our lives.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
We need to be content working in the fringe!
Gleaning in the fringe also requires:
II. Willingness to Finance it.
II. Willingness to Finance it.
For every beast of the forest is Mine,
And the cattle on a thousand hills.
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
Just as Boaz was a wealthy land owner and dispersed as he saw fit, God owns everything, and disperses it as He sees fit.
Boaz commanded his men to drop head’s of grain from the wagon.
God commands His servants to do the same.
As His servants, He commands us to tithe. This is what we leave in the fringe.
Do you have money?
He then says to us, give generously of yourselves and your resources.
This is what we drop from the wagon!
Have you been blessed Christian, with good finances?
Sorry, but it hasn’t been given to you for personal pleasure and aggrandizement.
It has been given to you to drop from the wagon!
In the judgement we shall see how many throughout time have disobeyed God’s command to give abundantly!
If Boaz’ men did not drop what Boaz commanded, Ruth would not be blessed.
The same goes for us!
Matthew 6:20
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
If we selfishly keep the resources God has given to us, then no one will be blessed.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:
Conclusion:
As a member of the family of God, you and I have the distinction of working in the field and financing it.
We are not beneath either circumstance.
The fact remains that Jesus came to bless all, and calling us to Himself, His blessings are incomparable whether in the fringe or in the wagon.
This is why He came to this earth.
Yet, there are many people who never work in the fringe or ride the wagon, because they are either disobedient or unaware.
When we do the work of God, we reap His blessings; but they are His blessings not ours.
He gives as He sees fit.
We must simply be faithful!