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
• When this is the situation, the responsibility is passed on to the nearest of kin
When Naomi and Ruth returned to the land of Judah, where Naomi had originally lived, Naomi sought the nearest of kin to carry out this plan of God.
Isn't it just like our Heavenly Father, He knows how to put the right people in our lives…
For example, He knows how to lead us when we seek Him for guidance…
• TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT CHURCH
• TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR MARRIAGE
• TO PUT IN PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT TOWN TO LIVE.
• TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT AGE TO LIVE.
And God put RUTH in the right place to meet BOAZ.
In chapters 2 and 3, we find Ruth seeking out a relative for her husband, whose name was Boaz.
WHO IS BOAZ?
He was a wealthy relative of Naomi's deceased husband Elimelech, who was the nearest of kin.
It is the story of a foreign girl, whose devotion won her a place in Israel's history, and in the lineage of David from which He came.
HOW DID BOAZ MEET RUTH?
• After deciding to honor the obligation of a relative to take the wife of the dead kinsman, Boaz seeks to give a closer relative the opportunity to marry Ruth. This takes place in Ruth chapter four.
• However, the kinsman refuses, and Boaz marries Ruth, fulfilling this obligation to raise up a name for her decease husband
This is not only a beautiful love story, it is a true story.
Naomi has returned back to Bethlehem, bringing her lovely daughter-in-law, Ruth, with her.
Let’s look at…
I. RUTH’S ARRIVAL IN BETHLEHEM
When Naomi went to Moab, she spent 10 miserable years there.
Why?
• Because she was heading in the wrong direction with her life.
• But now she is heading in the right direction. It is the way of GRACE!
Look at Ruth 2:1-2, “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. And 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."
These verses of scripture tell us some very important things about Ruth, such as…
1. RUTH HAD FAITH THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE
Look at Ruth 2:2, "And 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."
Notice she did not say:
• I HOPE I FIND GRACE
• I MIGHT FIND GRACE
She said, “…I SHALL FIND GRACE…”
When I think of the CONFIDENCE of Ruth I think about John McKay, of the NFL, tells a story illustrating the supreme confidence of University of Alabama football coach Bear Bryant:
He said "We were out shooting ducks, and finally, after about three hours, here comes one lonely duck. The Bear fires. And that duck is still flying today.
But Bear watched the duck flap away, looked at me and said, 'John, you are witnessing a genuine miracle. There flies a dead duck!'"
Ruth had CONFIDENCE, she said, “…I SHALL FIND GRACE…”
The word “grace” here is the word “chen”, (Pronounced as khane) it means favor, pleasant, well-favored.
Ruth knew that she had caught the attention of Boaz. Women know how to do this…don’t they?
She already knew that he was a:
• KIND MAN
• PLEASANT MAN
• GRACIOUS MAN
The Bible tells us she was confident.
Look in verse 2, we read, “…Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I SHALL FIND GRACE….”
But there are two kinds of grace that we need to consider.
(1) THERE IS COMMON GRACE
Even the lost world gathers blessings from God’s COMMON GRACE.
Look at Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
God provides life, air, sunlight, rain, wealth and opportunity, love and joy, technology, medicine, and countless other blessings on all categories of people—not just on those who choose to follow His Son.
The goodness of God that he sheds on sinners is so that they might come to repentance.
Oh, how good God is to lost mankind and still some will not come to him!!!
No one can ever say the reason they never accepted the Lord as their Savior was because God was mean to them.
HIS COMMON GRACE IS SHED ON ALL OF MANKIND!!!
This is the COMMON GRACE of God that is shed on the SAVED AND THE LOST.
But there is another kind of grace.
It is…
(B) THERE IS SAVING GRACE
You can only be a recipient of this grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ:
To receive this grace, you must be born-again.
Eph. 2:8 “For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
• Through COMMON GRACE we receive RAIN and SUNSHINE,
• Through SAVING GRACE we receive:
1) FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS
2) A HOME IN HEAVEN
3) ANSWERED PRAYERS
4) FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
I thank God for His COMMON GRACE, but I especially thank Him for His SAVING GRACE!
Listen, we cannot UNDERSTAND or APPRECIATE the Christian life until we UNDERSTAND and APPRECIATE the GRACE OF GOD.
Illus: Complete these common American phrases for me silently:
A. If it sounds too good to be true... it is.
B. We make money the old fashion way, we ... earn it.
C. There’s no such thing as a free ... lunch.
D. There is no gain without ... pain.
E. God helps those who ... help themselves.
Everything about the American way of life teaches us that
A. You get what you earn in life,
B. There’s no free lunch,
Illus: We tell people,
• "If you want to make something of your life it’s up to you"
• "If it is to be, it’s up to you".
When it comes to understanding God’s GRACE, that’s not the way God works.
The Bible teaches from cover to cover that GOD IS A GRACIOUS GOD.
Psalm 145:8 tells us "The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness."
• The Bible says God is a gracious God.
• That means He loves to be gracious to you.
• That means God loves to bless people who don’t deserve it.
You cannot understand the Christian life at all unless you understand grace.
The more you understand grace the more you’re going to be drawn to God, the more you’re going to love God, the more you’re going to be grateful to God.
A good definition of GRACE: "God giving me what I need, not what I deserve."
IIIus: If you were to ask fifty to a hundred people along the sidewalk "How do you get to heaven?"
You’d get a lot of different answers.
But basically, they would all be summarized in, "You’ve got to earn your way to heaven”.
You’d hear things like…
(1) Good Works
(2) Attend Church
(3) Read your Bible daily
(4) Pray
(5) "Do more good things in life than you do bad things in life and if your good pile is higher than you bad pile, God’s going to say, `You’re a good guy. Come on in.’"
You can do all these things, and they will not get you to heaven.
You need to understand that God says here that salvation is absolutely free. We are saved by GRACE ALONE!
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
God says salvation is absolutely free. JESUS PAID IT ALL!!!
1. You can’t earn it,
2. You can’t buy it,
3. You can’t work for it.
This is the fundamental difference between Christianity and every other religion. Other religions you have to do something…
But how do you know if you have done enough.
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us CHRIST DID SOMETHING ON CALVARY AND IF YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIS WORKS, NOT OUR WORKS…”Thou Shalt Be Saved”
Let me ask you a question?
How do you feel when you have a doctor’s appointment?
If you are like me…
Before you ever have to go, you look at your calendar and you see you have an appointment. And you start to count the days off before you ever have to go. You feel like a prisoner counting the days off before his execution.
The night before you go you do not sleep so well knowing you have an appointment with Dr. Switchblade!
But one thing about the GRACE OF GOD that saves us we do not dred seeing God, we are looking forward to seeing Him! WE KNOW HE PAID IT ALL!
GRACE IS SO UN-APPRECIATED BY SO MANY!!!
Grace is a constant theme in the Bible, and it culminates in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus.
Look at John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Grace is God choosing to bless us rather than curse us as our sin deserves.
It is His benevolence to the undeserving.
That is why Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves.”
The next time someone ask you what must they do to be saved. Tell them it is to late…CHRIST HAS ALREADY DONE IT!!!
The only way any of us can enter into a relationship with God is because of HIS AMAZING GRACE toward us.
Grace began in the Garden of Eden when God killed an animal to cover the sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21).
Illus: He could have killed the first humans right then for their disobedience. But rather than destroy them, He chose to make a way for them to be right with Him.
That pattern of grace continued throughout the Old Testament.
When God instituted blood sacrifices as a means to atone for sinful men. It was not the physical blood of those sacrifices, per se, that cleansed sinners; it was the grace of God that forgave those who trusted in Him (Hebrews 10:4; Genesis 15:6).
Sinful men showed their faith by offering the sacrifices that God required.
God is the instigator of grace, and it is from Him that all other grace flows.
God shows both mercy and grace, but they are not the same.
• Mercy withholds a punishment we deserve.
• Grace gives a blessing we don’t deserve.
Grace is God giving the greatest treasure to the least deserving—which is every one of us.
RUTH HAD FAITH THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE GRACE.
But also-
II. RUTH HAD FAITH THAT CAUSED HER TO MAKE A MAJOR CHANGE IN HER LIFE.
Look at Ruth 2:3, “And she went..." This was no easy thing that she did.
She left her culture, family and friends.
This is why many will not come to Christ. They are CONTENT LIVING IN SIN (Moab).
They are CONTENT living a life of sin that they are not willing to forsake.
Illus: They are not like the Christians in Thessalonica we read about.
Paul said this about them 1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
It is amazing how little many so called Christians today are not willing to FORSAKE ALL TO SERVE THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD.
But Ruth was willing to leave…
• Her friends that she grew up with
• Her family that she had grown up with
• Her gods that she had worshipped
• She left it all to follow Naomi to Bethlehem and worship and serve God
She had a faith that caused her to make that change!
3. RUTH HAD FAITH THAT RESULTED IN GUIDANCE
Look at Ruth 2:3 "...her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz..."
Notice the word “hap”.
This is the word “miqreh” (Pronounced as, mik-reh) which meant she “chanced” to find herself in the field of Boaz.
The world would say, “Boy wasn’t she lucky?”
But luck did not have a thing to do with it. We say, “Praise the Lord for guiding her footsteps!”
Prov. 3:5, 6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
B. GOD BROUGHT THEM BACK TO A FAITHFUL MAN
Boaz was a wonderful man. Look at some of the things the scripture has to say about him.
1. BOAZ WAS A "MIGHTY MAN OF WEALTH"
Ruth 2:1 “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.”
Notice, the Bible does not say that he was wealthy; the Bible says he was a “Mighty man of wealth”.
You might say into today’s language when it came to FINANCE…HE WAS LOADED!!!
Some Christians think it is a sin to be wealthy. Listen, it is not a sin to have wealth; it only becomes sin when wealth has you.
Illus: If think it is sin to have wealth. If you think that bring that burden of sin to me and I will be glad to carry it for you!
But he possessed more than money, the Bible records that-
2. BOAZ WAS A GODLY MAN
Ruth 2:4 "And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, THE LORD BE WITH YOU. And they answered him, THE LORD BLESS THEE."
You can tell a man loves the Lord by the way he talks. And you can tell by the speech of Boaz that he loved the Lord.
Notice, he said, “The LORD be with you.”
One of the best ways to find out what is in the heart of man is to listen to what comes out of his mouth.
If evil is in the heart, it will come out of the mouth.
Illus: We have heard people say, “Why do they make movies with all this filthy language?” They do it because they have filthy hearts.
The Bible says, in Matthew 12:34, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
You can tell from his conversations and deeds of Boaz that he was a godly man.
But also-
3. BOAZ WAS A COMPASSIONATE MAN
Look at Ruth 2:5 “...whose damsel is this?"
He took notice of this new woman gleaning in the field. Many would think that to notice a poor woman who gleaned in the fields would be beneath them.
But it could be the reason he noticed her we men can appreciate and admire the beauty of a woman. And you can also bet on the fact that Ruth made attention he noticed her.
4. BOAZ WAS A HELPING MAN
Look at Ruth 2:8b-9a "...Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them:.."
Notice the word he told her ANOTHER FIELD!!!
By this time Ruth had to notice that Boaz was interested in her.
Boaz gave specific directions so Ruth would know where to gather.
5. BOAZ WAS A PROVIDING AND PROTECTING MAN
There are several things we need to consider, such as:
(a) THE PROTECTION
Ruth 2:9 “...have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee?”
When Boaz saw Ruth he stamped his brand on her. But what Boaz did not know that Naomi and Ruth had stamped their brand on him.
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?
You better believe when a godly man or woman is seeking a mate and God brings that Mate into their life…THEY WILL KNOW IT.
Illus: One fellow who experience love at first sight saw this girl and said, Do you believe in love at first sight—or should I walk by again?
Illus: One fellow saw this girl and fell in love with her at first sight said, There's only one thing I want to change about you, and that's your last name.
Boaz saw Ruth and right then and there he stamped is brand on her.
Boaz recognized that Ruth was under the protection of God.
Also we are told he made…
(B) PROVISION FOR HER
He made sure she had plenty to eat.
Ruth 2:14 “And Boaz said unto her, at mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and SHE DID EAT, AND WAS SUFFICED, and left.”
He made sure she gathered plenty.
Ruth 2:15-16 “And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, LET HER GLEAN EVEN AMONG THE SHEAVES, AND REPROACH HER NOT: And LET FALL ALSO SOME OF THE HANDFULS OF PURPOSE FOR HER, AND LEAVE THEM, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.”
Not only:
• Did Boaz tell Ruth where to glean in the fields,
• He also instructed his men to drop some of what they were gathering.
They were to do this on purpose, and then let Ruth gather it up.
OUR DECISIONS LEAD TO OUR DESTINATION.
This decision that Ruth made was the best decision she ever made.
This decision led to a life of…
• Blessings
• Opportunity
• To put her in the linage of Christ.
It was a FIRM DECISION. Look at Ruth 1:16-And 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.
Conclusion:
• Naomi is the perfect picture of the backslider living in Moab. The Lord graciously brought her back.
• Ruth is the perfect picture of a sinner living in sinful Moab. But God graciously saved her.
The Bible is full of stories illustrating the principle of grace.
Illus: One of these stories is found in 2 Samuel
This is a story of a young disabled boy named Mephibosheth.
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, the grandson of King Saul in the Old Testament.
Remember the story of David and Saul. David was going to be the king.
Saul was the current king, and Saul was jealous of David, so most of David’s life, Saul was trying to kill him.
He chased him all over the countryside. David spent most of his time hiding from Saul, avoiding being killed out of jealousy.
But David never retaliated. In fact, he became best friends with King Saul’s son, named Jonathan. They made a secret covenant that if either of them ever died they would take care of each other’s family.
Later on, both Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, and David became the king.
All of Saul’s relatives immediately were in fear thinking, "David, who King Saul has been trying to kill all of his life, is now in control and he’s going to kill all of us."
They all tried to escape and hide.
One of them was the son of Jonathan named Mephibosheth. The nurse was carrying the young boy out in the escape, she dropped him.
His legs were broken, and he became a paraplegic.
So here was this young disabled boy living in fear, frightened for his life that the man who was now king would retaliate against him.
Because of the covenant that David and Jonathan made to each other provide for each other family one day David says, "Is there anybody still alive in Saul’s household that I can show kindness to (grace)?"
They said, "Yes, there is Jonathan son. He’s a disabled little boy named Mephibosheth. He cannot walk."
David said, "Bring him to me." You can imagine the fear in Mephibosheth’s heart.
But to his surprise when he arrived, David said,
(1) "I’m going to take you in, Mephibosheth, and make you a part of my family.
(2) I want you to live here in the palace for the rest of my life.
(3) I’m going to pay all your bills. I’m going to meet all your needs. You are to sit at my table each night and dine with me and I’m going to treat you just like you’re one of my own sons." That’s grace.
The Bible says that God comes to us, and we’re broken, we’re disabled, and God takes us into his family…THAT’S GRACE!!!
Because of Jesus God the Father has taken us into His family and will provide for us for eternal home. THAT’S GRACE!!!
