FULLNESS OF GRACE
Text: Ruth 3:14-18
Introduction
1. “Out of His fullness we receive, and grace for grace, – like wave upon wave.”— Horatius Bonar
2. You will never run out of grace.
3. “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” (Jn. 1:16).
4. With God we are never left empty handed.
5. Read Ruth 3:14-18
Transition: Let’s go back to the threshing floor as we go…
I. From Empty to Full
A. Last week, we talked about Ruth going to the threshing floor, at Naomi suggestion, to propose marriage to Boaz. Everything was on the up and up as they were both people of integrity.
B. So, the way they handled things the next morning was extremely important. In v. 14 we see, “So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.”
1. Ruth woke up early in the morning while it was still dark.
2. Boaz had expressed to her that no one must know that she had spent the night at the threshing floor.
3. This was important for two reasons. First, even though they had acted with integrity, if anyone saw her at the threshing floor overnight, they may and probably would have, expected the worst.
4. Just like today, gossip was a major problem. Even though they didn’t have social media or smart phones with cameras, word would have gotten around fast. They both needed to protect their reputations.
5. Second, they must not allow anything to spoil the “business transaction” that would take place in town that day.
6. If either of their reputations were in question it put in jeopardy Boaz’s intentions to be her family redeemer.
7. So, they took the necessary precautions to see that didn’t happen.
C. Then Boaz blesses her with another gift. In v. 15 we read, “Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town.”
1. Before he sent her back to Naomi, Boaz had another gift for her.
2. He had her spread out her cloak, and he gave her six scoops of barley.
3. We are not sure exactly how much barley is in a scoop, however, what is clear is that it was meant as a symbol of his commitment to Ruth.
4. Then it says he returned to town. This showed his willingness to deal with the matter of Ruth’s family redeemer.
5. He didn’t delay in keeping his promise to Ruth.
D. Now, the writer returns his attention to Ruth. In vv. 16-17 it says, “When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?” Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
1. So, Ruth returns to Naomi, and immediately Naomi wanted to know how it went. Naturally, Ruth tells her all about it!
2. She told her about his agreement to see that she would have a family redeemer, whether it was him or the one that was closer to her in the family.
3. Then Ruth pointed to the six scoops of barley that Boaz gave to her.
4. Then she adds that he said, “Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty handed.”
a. This seems a little perplexing because nowhere in our text does he make this statement.
b. But what the writer was doing was putting this phrase on the lips of Ruth, and it is clearly a reference to Naomi’s statement back in chapter one of “coming back empty handed.”
c. It is a reminder to Naomi as to how much God had blessed her since she returned home to Israel.
E. The scene concludes in v. 18, “Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”
1. Naomi’s response to Ruth indicates that she understands what the gift from Boaz means.
2. She tells Ruth to just sit still as the events unfold.
3. She is more convinced in Boaz’s character now than ever before.
4. She is also convinced that he will act on her behalf, and that he won’t stop until he settles things that very day.
5. She just needs to sit back and trust God grace.
Transition: Now let’s look at…
II. Receiving The Fullness of Grace
A. Ruth and Boaz teach us that God-honoring paths lead to God-honoring outcomes.
1. “Stay away from every kind of evil.” (1 Thess. 5:22).
2. This verse in the KJV talks about “avoiding the appearance of evil.”
3. “In avoiding the appearance of evil, I am not sure, but I have sometimes unnecessarily deprived myself and others of innocent enjoyments.” (Rutheford B. Hayes).
4. We need to conduct ourselves in a way that no one can accuse us of doing wrong.
5. If you don’t want people to gossip about you, don’t give them any ammunition!
6. It is important that we live a life of integrity on a consistent basis, and avoid anything, place, or person that is going to put a roadblock in our way.
7. “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 Jn. 1:7).
B. God will finish what He stared.
1. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Phil. 1:6).
2. There is a good deal of truth to the statement, “Be patient with me; God isn’t through with me yet!”
3. But there’s another side to that statement; we need to also be patient with ourselves.
4. God knows you and knows where you’re at in your walk with Him. And even if you are struggling and feeling like giving up on yourself, know that God never will give up on you.
5. Ruth needed to sit still and know that the Lord is God, and so do we.
6. There is enough of God’s grace to see you through whatever you are struggling with in your life.
7. So, be like Ruth and trust Him to finish the work He started.
C. God’s grace will not leave you empty-handed.
1. “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” (Jn. 1:16).
2. “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Cor. 12:9).
3. Don’t be like Naomi once was, and thought God left her empty-handed.
4. Instead, be like Ruth who trusted God to meet her needs and waited for Him to fulfill them.
5. There is no need you have or emptiness you’re experiencing that God’s grace isn’t enough to handle.
6. Trust in His grace and His timing to meet your need.
Conclusion
What’s the point preacher? No matter the circumstances or situation, God’s abundance of grace will give you one blessing after another.
