Seeing God in the Ordinary:
Seeking a Grace Filled Life
Ruth 2:14-23
As I have been reading Ruth I am struck with the theme that God is behind, under and working through the ordinary events of life. We see this in the flow of farming, in Ruth ‘happening’ upon Boaz’s field, through generosity of Boaz, in Ruth’s diligence, in match making of Naomi, at the city gate, in the marriage of Boaz and Ruth, in the birth of their child, in the nation of Israel. The writer is telling us that it is not as though God is not working then all of a sudden he works in some extra ordinary way. He is telling us that in all of life God is working in the ordinary as well as the extra ordinary. Look for God in both.
1. God’s Grace Flows When I entrust myself to Him
We have seen that God is pouring out his grace or favor toward Ruth because she has entrusted herself to God, described as her seeking refuge under his wings (2:12). Ruth has abandoned her people, abandoned her country, abandoned her culture and gone to an unknown and uncertain place, embracing an unknown people, because she has embraced Yahweh. If you ponder her words to Naomi, we recognize that they are utterly amazing. She leaves everything safe, secure and protected to embark on a journey that is uncertain, and unsafe.
Last week we saw that God’s grace came through a person, Boaz. Boaz did a number of things. He gave her a position of favored gleaner, he protected her, as an outsider he embraced her as one of his own. Now in verse 14 -16 we see that God’s grace continues. He feeds her in a meal and gives her extra grain to glean. He invites her, an outsider, into his company with his staff. Boaz embraces her and welcomes her and includes her. He also looks out for her by putting her among his female servants and told his men not to harm her.
When we entrust ourselves to God as little helpless eaglets, God spreads his strong and mighty wings of safety, protection and provision over us to cast a shadow of grace and mercy over us. So the relation between taking refuge under God's wings on the one hand and abandoning everything to care for Naomi on the other hand, is that being under God's wings enabled Ruth to forsake human refuge and give herself in love to Naomi. God’s grace is God’s empowering presence or sustaining presence. Or another way to say it is that leaving home and loving Naomi are the result and evidence of taking refuge in God. Gods grace empowers us to do what we cannot do – like take radical risks.
2. God’s Grace Does not flow in a Vacuum
But God’s grace does not happen in a vacuum. The bible does not teach a let go and let God mentality. A fatalistic or deterministic what will be will be. Nor is grace is not a license to sin. I hear this unbiblical concept that we can do what we want and God’s grace will cover us. Notice Ruth’s actions. Ruth was diligent (v. 7) and she reaped abundance (vs. 14-17). Boaz prayed for Ruth (v. 12) and God answered the prayer (vs. 19-20). Ruth devoted herself to Naomi and she was embraced, protected, provided for by Boaz. Here is a theme that runs throughout the scriptures, and a principle that will endure as long as the earth exists. That principle is what I sow I reap.
What I sow I will reap
It starts in Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." In other words, seedtime and harvest, or "sowing and reaping", will be as unchangeable and predictable as day and night. Sowing and reaping is a principle built into the way life works. It is a general truth that works the same way for everyone, everywhere. It's a principle that God has built into the created order. In Galatians 6:7, we are told, "Whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Essentially, this means that every action has a predictable and corresponding consequence. If I sow corn, I'll get corn, not potatoes. If I sow radishes, I'll get radishes, not squash. It also works the same way in the spiritual realm. If I sow (give away) life to others, I will reap life myself. If I sow provision for others, I will reap provision for myself. If I sow forgiveness toward others, I'll reap forgiveness for myself. If I show compassion for others, I will reap compassion.
The principle has positive consequences
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
The principle has negative consequences
In Luke 6:38, Jesus assured us that we could count on it. The principle of sowing and reaping always works. If you sow bad things, you reap bad things. So He starts off in verse 37 with a warning: "Do not judge!" Guess what happens if you do? You guessed it - you'll reap judgment. But if you refrain from judgment and condemnation, you'll escape reaping it from others. And then he goes on to apply this principle of sowing and reaping to our giving of material goods: "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Also if I do not sow seeds, I will not reap. If I do not sow provision for others, I will not reap God’s provision in my life. If I do not sow community in my life, I will not reap community. That is I will be on my own and God will not pour out his grace.
The principle is proportionate
ESV 2 Corinthians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity
The context here is giving. If you are generous toward providing for the work of God, then God will be generous toward you – in all ways. This is in the context of the Macedonian church which was incredibly poor and barely making it. Again, if you put yourself under the wings of God, he will provide for you.
This was true with Ruth. She left all to commit herself to Naomi God rewards her risk taking and God provides. She leaves family and she reaps family; she leaves people and reaps a people, she leaves the hope of a husband and she reaps a husband. That is why Paul says in verse 9 of Gal 6, And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. God is the one who is rewarding Ruth for her love to Naomi. Boaz is the means God uses. Boaz’s actions are the means by which God intends to show grace to Ruth. Notice the words, "The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" God will reward Ruth because she has sought refuge under his wings.
This is a common teaching in the Old Testament. For example, Psalm 57:1 says, "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. Why should God show mercy to Ruth? Because she has sought refuge under his wings. She has counted his protection better than all others. She has set her heart on God for hope and joy. And when a person does that God's glory and honor is at stake and he will be merciful. If you plead God's glory and honor as the source of your hope, then God who has an unwavering commitment to his own value engages all his heart for your protection and joy.
3. God’s Grace is meant to Flow Through us
Let me end by getting back to Naomi briefly. Boaz gives Ruth all she can eat for lunch (v. 14, cf. "more grace" James 4:6). She works until sundown. She returns to Naomi and gives her the leftovers from lunch and shows her all the grain (vs. 17-19). Naomi is very excited over what Ruth has returned with. An ephah of grain is about 30 pounds or about six month’s wages. Ruth has hit the jackpot. God has delivered them from famine. God’s grace showered upon Ruth has flowed to Naomi. God’s grace is meant to flow through us toward others. It has flowed form Boaz to Ruth to Naomi.
Where the rubber meets the road:
Do I want God’s grace in my life?
What areas of my life am I not sowing into?
Are there areas in my life that are stopping the flow of grace in my life?
Am I a follower of Christ?
