Ruth 4

Last week we walked through Ruth 3, seeing that there is a huge difference between active and passive faith. Though both are Christians, the kingdom advances through Active faith. The path to satisfaction is through active Christianity. Noami laid a plan and Ruth acted on it, and we were left with Boaz needing to act on his – which he promised to do. This week we have to ask this question:

I’ve made a plan, I’m acting on it – now what?

Satisfaction does not lie in me accomplishing what I want, but in God accomplishing what He wants through me.

Read Ruth 4

Satisfaction is found eternally in Christ, and it has been said that there is no better place than to be in the center of God’s will. To be in Christ is to be satisfied in our core. To be in God’s will gives satisfaction despite uncertainty.

In chapter 3 Naomi moves from depression to actively living for the kingdom and planning for other’s good. She joined what God was doing in the world, knowingly or not. A good question for our lives is: Am I living in God’s will for me?

I. Before we can set a plan and act on it and ask for satisfaction, we need to know – Am I living God’s will for me?

A. God wants people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Am I a part of His accomplishing that through being active in my faith and vocally sharing the Gospel and consistently ministering to my friends and neighbor’s needs?

God desires that we abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3). Boaz and Ruth gave us a pattern in chapter 3 for all their emotions and love and midnight behavior that is rooted in righteousness. Amy I honoring God with my sexuality?

If you are in God’s will and have made a plan in your situation: whether it is plans to start a business, work for a company, graduate and get a job or pursue further degrees, and you’re acting on it, what do you do while not much is happening?

Boaz goes to the city gate and waits. The city gate was the gathering place in ancient towns. In the walled cities buildings were and homes were compact and tightly pact, but the gates in the walls to the cities provided a place of interchange and commerce and business, as well as judgment in legal matters. They were kind of like the mall and the statehouse – you can get it all done in those two buildings. So Boaz heads out first thing in the morning, and waits.

For all our talk about active faith, we still cannot separate ourselves from God’s action. We can only assume Boaz knew the man, especially the way the text speaks about this kinsman redeemer – Boaz knew immediately there was someone with rights to Ruth and the property closer than he. Explain Levirite Marriage. Wouldn’t it have been easier to rush things and go straight to the man and deal with the situation? Even to take elders with you, or go and get the man and bring him to the gate. Why Boaz didn’t do this I’ll never know – but it was shrewd. He didn’t communicate overzealousness. He didn’t walk into the car lot and say “I want that new one, how much!?” with a big smile and eager look in his eyes. He wasn’t impatient. Far from it, he trusted in God. If the man would redeem, he would do so at the city gate, the proper place, in front of the proper authorities and God would still be God and in control. And if the man wouldn’t, God would still be God and in control. There is remarkable satisfaction in God.

Patience is not laziness. As soon as the man appeared Boaz was on him. If God is working in your life, as he was in Boaz’s and Ruth’s and Naomi’s: seize the moment. Boaz settled it first thing – he was active about it.
A. Seize the moment. Don’t wait when the opportunity comes. If you have been praying for your neighbor and they come over to talk – seize the moment!
B. Seizing the moment means casting aside hindrances.
1. Boaz did not let the business of his fields occupy him at the gate that day.
2. He did not let the logistical concerns of the grain on the threshing floor occupy him.
3. He did not let his hunger or his slumber derail him – he was seizing the moment. Just as Christ was determined to climb calvary, so Boaz was determined to find the answer about Ruth.

II. The Closer Man (v.3-8)
a. This was certainly a unique day for the closer kinsman redeemer. All of a sudden he had the chance for more property – and he leaped at it. Shrewd businessman – grow your business, increase revenue, etc., etc., etc.
b. But then comes the catch: there was a responsibility, RUTH, who became a burden in his eyes.
i. Christians, we have tremendous responsibility. We are responsible to magnify Christ, accept the load given us in the world as from God, and do everything for Him. We are responsible to be His witnesses 24/7, and to care for those who need help around us.
1. People should not be a burden in our eyes: how long did Jesus bear with Judas? How long is God patient with His people?
ii. Some commentators, namely Leon Morris, note that there is a hint of selfishness in this redeemer man. He has his own concerns first. He could take the field but not the woman. Perhaps it would be too great a financial burden to care for Ruth (even with the new field)? Or maybe the man wasn’t really concerned with preserving Mahlon’s line. Whatever the case, if we take the notion that he wanted to make a name for himself, it is noteworthy that his name is never mentioned. It is almost deliberately concealed.
1. Living in God’s will and making a name for yourself cannot go together. Satisfaction won’t last if you’re all about yourself. Who cares if your dead and gone and a building is named after you?
c. In his world, he couldn’t see caring for Ruth, so he turns down the deal, and Boaz seizes the moment. He pounces, in fact the elders, the witness affirm, bless and pronounce them married and Ruth wasn’t even there!
i. Plans may not be what you think. If you’re dreaming of a big wedding someday, remember Ruth. It’s not the wedding, it’s the marriage that matters. She didn’t even make it to her own wedding, but she had a great 2nd marriage.
ii. It is always an act of faith to say: God, Your way is better.
1. Russian believers story: Forbidden Faith
III. Resurrection (v.5, 10)
a. The real issue of this deal was maintaining the name of someone else. Boaz, man of God, was prepared to give himself to the work. The name of Mahlon and Elimelech would be resurrected.
b. This was all working into God’s perfect plan.
c. God acts relavantly: specificity of geneaology (NT)
d. God acts relationally:
i. Boaz and Ruth
ii. God to person
iii. God to you
iv. Community of Faith
1. Blessing of Elders
2. Blessing of Women
3. Satisfaction in community.

Satisfaction is available. Take it in Christ.

Chapter 1:
In the hard times – look to our Lord
In the poor times, the depressing times: look to the Light of the world!

Chapter 2:
In the good times, give generously like Boaz: take the good from the Lord for His Glory!
Satisfaction in Christ, not money, not fields, not business, not job, but the Ruler, the Savior

Chapter 3:
In the planning times, the times of hope, look to the Hope of the World and trust in Him.

Chapter 4:
In the times of acting out your plans, look to the one who matters: jEsus.