Brother Rodger Castle brought the message.
Ruth 2: 1And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 2And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 15And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: 16And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 17So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
Elimelech moved his family due to a famine. They did well. He died leaving his wife and two sons and their wives. Soon the sons died. Naomi told the girls to go back to their mothers, but Ruth said intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Her determination is what we need with the Lord. We’re redeemed from sin; we should tell God that no matter where he sends us we’ll go. It may not bide well with others, but we trust that God will lead us right.
Naomi had a kinsman who could redeem her from the situation she was in. The person had to be the closet relative who had the ability and desire to do it. They needed food and sustenance. Ruth was willing to glean in the fields. She followed the reapers. We should be willing to follow the right thing and glean after Jesus. We should want to be where he sends us and nowhere else. Who are you following? Are you going here and there instead of staying in the field God put you in? Don’t dabble here and there in the world.
Ruth caught the eye of Boaz. He told his men to leave her alone. He supplied her water. He took care of her just like God takes care of us. She asked him why she found grace in his eyes. Have you ever asked God that when he miraculously provides? We have so much with Jesus, more than happiness. We have joy. Ruth was a pagan outside of Israel. God allowed her in. She and Boaz were married, and she was plugged in the lineage that ultimately led to Jesus. She was King David’s great grandmother. You know that she told him what all God had done for her as he was growing up. That’s all we have to share with our kids today. Tell them about God and what he’s done for us.
Boaz commanded that Ruth be allowed to glean among the sheaves and then told the men to leave handfuls on purpose for her. He made it easy for her to glean. The Lord makes it easy for us. The Bible says the way of a transgressor is hard. We’re not promised a bed of roses, but we are promised that God will supply our need. He’ll never put on us more than we can bear; he will provide a way to escape temptation. He does all that and more at the call of his name.
Ruth was willing to work. In one day’s time she gleaned almost a bushel full of grain. Jesus has chores for us to do. He gives us a lot. We should work for him. We should stay in the field he put us in and do the work he wants us to do. Too many people go here a while and then somebody says something that makes them mad. They cause trouble and go off somewhere else. We need to stand firm. If the devil comes against your preacher, stand with him. If he goes against your Sunday school teacher, stand with him. Don’t give up. God needs people who will stay in the field.
God keeps a record. Are you following Jesus or following after yourself to get some glory for something? Are you where you need to be? Are you doing the job you were called to do? When we get to heaven, our works will be tried. They’ll be in one of six categories: gold, silver, precious gems or hay, straw, and stubble. The latter three will burn up when put in the fire. The fire will make the first three shine. I want to get rewards from the Lord. I want him to say “well done.”
What about you? Are you towing up to the mark God has set for you?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 