Hey Guys! Welcome to
another part of the Godly
Relationships series. I have done two previous sessions on this-you can
access the last one by clicking here!
My teaching on this
topic through the passage of Ruth has been completely unintentional but I just
go as the Spirit leads! This is the final installment for Ruth 2 on Godly
Relationships-its so amazing how much the Word of God can speak into any
situation and I’m excited to culminate this passage here with you guys-lets
begin!
(In order to get a good
grasp of the principles I will be explaining here I encourage you to read at
least the last installment by following the link above.)
Ruth 2:13-23 (NIV):
13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she
said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do
not have the standing of one of your servants.”
14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some
bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”
When she
sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all
she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz
gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand
her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and
leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”
17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she
threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah.[a] 18 She carried it back to town, and
her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave
her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.
19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today?
Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!”
Then Ruth
told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The
name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.
20 “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He
has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added,
“That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.[b]”
21 Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with
my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’”
22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for
you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone
else’s field you might be harmed.”
23 So Ruth stayed close to
the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished.
And she lived with her mother-in-law.
1. APPRECIATION: It is so important in your relationships with
people-family, friends, and so on that you show appreciation. Ruth showed
appreciation to Boaz. She spoke from a position of appreciation of his kindness
towards her and she embodied humility-she recognized that she did not deserve
his kindness because she did not have the standing of his servants. When you
walk with the LORD, He puts you in a position where you feel undeserving of
favor-but it is key to show appreciation and to remain humble.
2.
INVITATION: Appreciation opens the
way to an invitation. Boaz invited Ruth to come and eat with him. Hence when
you show appreciation to those around you-it will open the way for an
invitation to build a more solid connection. Ruth ate all she wanted and even
had leftovers-and this started with her display of appreciation. This is why
appreciation is key. It adds to your communicative capacity with that person.
Boaz unbeknownst to Ruth also provided protection. He told his men not only to
not disturb her but to even help her. This is what happens when you begin to
move in accordance with the LORD’s will for your life, He places you in relationships
where you are not only provided for but you are protected-and sometimes it
happens without your knowledge as in the case of Ruth. Her path was made much
easier because of her attitude of obedience and loyalty. Notice that after Ruth
responded to Boaz’s invitation to sit and
eat-she was offered even more and as she got up to glean-she was once again
offered even more this time without her knowledge. There are different
stages of protection and reception that come with an obedient response. Each time
Ruth took a step forward in responsive obedience, another door opened for her.
It is important that you respond to your relationships. Respond to
communication between your family and friends and loved ones in general it
opens up more avenues for reception and builds a deeper connection between you
both. Boaz built a deeper connection with Ruth through his attitude-she sat with him to eat. A far cry from
working on his field-hence there are steps and stages to relationships that all
come at the end of the day from appreciation and reception.
3.
MANIPULATION: Ruth worked until
evening-she did not take advantage of the situation. She did not manipulate
Boaz’s intention-she worked. A lot of
us take advantage of our relationships-we manipulate the kindness of others, we
take advantage of their love and their honesty towards us-and all this does is
to block the connection. Ruth worked after she had received Boaz’s blessing.
Are you working towards returning that loan from your parents? Are you taking
advantage of the love and understanding your partner has extended you? This
ruins the relationship. But notice Ruth’s disposition-she was active in the
field until evening-she was not lazy because of Boaz’s words. She kept working
and carried the fruits of her labor back to town.
4.
ACTIONS: It’s important to
notice she showed both the barley she gathered and the leftovers to Naomi.
Actions speak louder than words. Ruth demonstrated her commitment to her mother
in law through her actions. She held nothing back. What are you holding back
from that relationship? What are you hiding from your partner? Naomi asked Ruth
some questions which she readily answered-are you responsive to your
parents/friends/loved ones questions? What remains hidden in your relationship?
Then it is not built on honesty and if it is not built on honesty it cannot
function properly! Ruth was honest with Naomi because they shared a bond built
on trust and loyalty. Don’t infect the bond with your family/partner those that
are close to you with lies-tell the truth.
5.
REVELATION: Truth gives room to
receive revelation. Naomi was able to share more information with Ruth about
Boaz’s history. You never know what that information you are hiding from your
loved ones can reveal in your life. Ruth learned about Boaz’s character because
of her honesty. When you walk in truth-the information you seek will come to
you. Ruth walked in truth and honesty and she learned more about Boaz and his
history.
6.
INSIGHT: Ruth was able to receive
insight about her relationship with Boaz through Naomi-all because of her
honesty. And this also made their connection stronger. Naomi warned Ruth that
she might be harmed in another’s field. It’s interesting that Boaz had warned
his men not to harm Ruth as well. Notice the pattern in their conversation-it
has the arrangement of ensuring Ruth’s best interest. This should be the
recurring thread in all your relationships. Is there anyone in your life that
doesn’t act like they have your best interests? Then you are allowing a discord
to function in your life. Everyone around you should have your best interest at
heart.
7.
AFFECTION: Naomi cared for Ruth as
did Boaz hence they both responded to her with kindness and affection. Who is
not showing you kindness? Listen to actions not words. This will show you how
they feel about you.Ruth was also affected by Boaz and Naomi’s presence in her
life. you are affected by each and every person you allow into your life-so be
careful who you let in.For instance, Ruth was affected at work by Boaz as she stayed closed to his women and she was
affected at home by Naomi as she lived with her. Your friendships and
relationships in general should protect
you and not expose you.
Ask yourself the simple
question: who is protecting you and who is leaving you exposed?
The aim of this
breakdown is to enable you to understand the power in relationships and the
value they add to your life and your daily decisions. Choose wisely.
You can check out
similar topics by clicking on the links below: