A Good Word For The Mother-In-Law

Sources for this sermon include 1994 Minister's Manual and the Broadman Bible Commentary. Outline included at the end.

A GOOD WORD FOR THE MOTHER-IN-LAW

Mother’s Day 2010 RUTH 1:6-18

Baby asked God They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,

but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?

God said Your angel will be waiting for you & will take care of you

Child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven

I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God- "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.

And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again small child asked, "How am I going to be able to understand

when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God-"Your angel will tell you the most beautiful & sweet words

you will ever hear, and with much patience and care,

your angel will teach you how to speak." "

And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God-"Your angel will place your hands together

& will teach you how to pray." "Who will protect me?"

God-"Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God-"Your angel will always talk to you about me & will teach you

way to come back to me even though I will always be next to you"

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard & child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave

now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, "You will simply call her, Mom."

Mother taught me RELIGION: When I spilled grape juice on carpet she said "You better pray the stain will come out of the carpet."

Mother taught me LOGIC: From her decisive words, "Because I said so, that’s why."

Mother taught me FORESIGHT: "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident."

Mother taught me IRONY: "Keep laughing, and I’ll give you something to cry about."

Mother taught me about STAMINA: "You’ll sit there ’til all that spinach is finished."

Mother taught me about WEATHER: "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

Mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION: "Stop acting like your father!"

Counselors agree that there are 3 Adjustments in Early Marriage

FINANCES, adjusting to shared accounts, setting up a budget

SEXUAL RELATIONS learning to grow in this

God given expression of marital love

AND IN-LAWS in-law relationships person who bears lion’s

share of blame in this latter area is the mother-in-law

a comedian said the mother rocks the cradle,

mother-in-law rocks the boat

Tragic this relationship intended to be enriching treated with sarcasm

becoming an in-law is a reminder

probably more than anything that baby grown up old adage true

you really do marry into a family not just one person

Book of Ruth focuses on which Biblical character??

RUTH, oh I love such a brilliant bunch of biblical scholars

Ruth great-grandmother of David, remarkable woman,

came by it honestly because of mother-in-law called Naomi

Naomi=PLEASANT OR AGREEABLE she was a mother-in-law

In Ruth 1:1-5 find Naomi & husband Elimelech from Bethlehem

famine struck Israel, so to survive migrated to Moab where 2 sons

took wives one named Ruth other Orpah where Oprah name from

it was there that Naomi suffered 3 terrible griefs,

husband died then 10 yrs later both sons died

Can imagine how this effected her

But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara,

for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. Vs 20 NKJV

She was at least depressed and perhaps bitter at her losses

1. Naomi possessed GREAT FAITH

Naomi decided to return home to Bethlehem, been gone years

hearing famine was over she encouraged two childless

daughters-in-law to remain in Moab

As we look at story there was something about Naomi that stood out

Though TARNISHED BY TEARS

Her Faith REMAINED STRONG

She was in Moab foreign land a famine forced her to flee there

Yahweh God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob not worshiped

Yet she remained faithful though she must have done so alone

a true test of Christian faith, when it is practiced by the minority

Would you continue in faith if you were only Christian at work

Would you continue to come to church if you had to do it alone?

I have had to and it is not easy, Naomi remained faithful

Left alone a widow her life is over sends daughters-in-law home

Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back.

Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live.