Our Directions Determines Our Destination (2 Of 2)

He explained that the wealthy man had:

• Wonderful clothes,

• Lived in luxury

• Had all the food he could eat

But he had no compassion for Lazarus, who was a beggar.

Lazarus was so poor that he ate the crumbs from the rich man’s table.

• Later in their lives, the rich man ended up dying and went to hell,

• While Lazarus, who’d, spent his life sick and destitute, ended up in heaven with God.

After finishing the story, the teacher asked his class, “Now which would you rather be--the rich man or Lazarus?”

• A little boy raised his hand and said, “I’d like to be both.”

• The teacher was surprised and confused and said, “Explain that to me.”

• The boy said, “I’d want to be the rich man while I was living and Lazarus when I died.”

A lot of people are like that in life. BUT IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY!!!

In the book of Ruth chapter one Naomi is the STAR ATTRACTION, but when we get to chapter 2 Ruth becomes the STAR ATTRACTION.

Illus: Ruth makes us think of a movie actress that is in a movie with a famous star, and she is playing the supporting role. But as the Book of Ruth progresses, she steals the spot light from the star Naomi.

IN FACT, THE BOOK IS NOT CALLED THE BOOK OF NAOMI IT IS CALLED THE BOOK OF RUTH.

Illus: It was one of the favorite books of the Bible for Benjamin Franklin, when he was United States Ambassador to France.

During that time, he would occasionally attend the “Infidels Club” - which was a group of intellectuals who spent most of their time searching for, and reading literary masterpieces.

On one occasion, when it was Benjamin Franklin’s turn to read, he chose to read the book of Ruth to the club.

He changed the names in it so it would not be recognized as a book of the Bible.

When he finished the reading, they said it was one of the most beautiful short stories that they had ever heard.

They requested that he tell them where he came across such a remarkable literary masterpiece.

Being a Christian, it was his great delight to tell them that it was from the Bible.

When Naomi decided to leave Moab and return to Bethlehem Ruth made a GOOD DECISION to come with her.

In fact, it was not only a good decision it is the best decision she ever made in her life!!!

There are two times in our lives we have to be careful about making BAD DECISIONS.

(1) During difficult times

(2) During emotional times.

This was an EMOTIONAL DECISION for Ruth as she had to leave FAMILY, FRIENDS, CULTURE to go back with Naomi to her homeland.

Illus: This is the same kind of EMOTIONAL DECISION that a Missionary has to make when they leave FAMILY, FRIENDS, and CULTURE to go to the mission field. THAT IS A BIG DECISION!!!

We have to be careful when we have to make decisions during DIFFICULT TIMES and EMOTIONAL TIMES.

WHY?

For example…

• In the midst of a MARITAL CRISIS. People get a divorce, but later they deeply regret it

• In the midst of a CHURCH CRISIS. People decide they will leave their church and join another church and later regret it

• In the MIDST OF A ROMANTIC CRISIS. Some people decide they want to end a relationship, only to regret it later

Life is filled with all kinds of DIFFICULT TIMES, and EMOTIONAL times in our lives when we have to make decisions.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL DURING THESE TIMES?

Because any time we go through a crisis, our emotions are heightened and at that time we are not capable of making a good decision.

When Naomi decided she was going to return to her home land Ruth made the decision to leave her HOME LAND.

Even though it was difficult EMOTIONALLY it was the best decision she ever made and I will show you why in a few minutes.

WHO IS RUTH?

To understand who she is and her significance, we have to understand something of the Jewish history which is different from ours.

• She is a Moabite by birth.

• When Naomi came to Moab, one of her sons, Mahlon, married Ruth, but later he died

• When an Israelite man dies leaving a wife behind with no children, then the brother of that man is to marry the widow, and raise up a son to take the dead brother's name,

• In this way, the land not only could be kept by the wife, but could also be inherited by the son

• But his brother Chilion (Pronounce as Killion) had also died, so that left no one to take care of this responsibility