Achievement
(Ruth 3:14-18)
Ruth 3:18b says 'For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today' Lets see how we should not rest today until it is settled for our true achievement.
1. We should not rest our obedience. After recognizing Boazs intention to marry her, Ruth fell into a sound sleep out of her extreme tension, enjoying the peace that Boaz gave her. Ruth, who boldly expressed herself, demonstrated the virtue of obedience to Boaz, knowing that he would be her spouse. The key to achievement is flexiblity and prompt acceptance. In order to win peoples heart, we need to be atractive as Gods people, which calls for our sense of timing. True concern for people is another key to achievement. Success is worldly prosperity, but achievement is spiritual fulfillment aimed to Jesus.
2. We should not rest in trying to avoid misunderstanding. Ruths lying at Boazs feet for redemption was not a shameful action. But still, she and Boaz were not a legally married couple. Thus they needed to be careful. To Christians, what matters is faith in Jesus. Yet as we live on earth, we need to consider legality. There are many things we should be careful about so that we do not attract peoples wrongful attention for the sake of the gospel. People judge others baed on appearance. No matter how small our application might be, it is what Jesus notices before visiting us.
3. We should not rest deliberately standing in others shoes. Ruth woke up before dawn, when it was neither too dark nor too bright a perfect time for achievement. She thought that she might put Boaz in difficult situation. She tried to keep people from knowing that she slept with Boaz. Otherwise, a rumor would spread that she tempted Boaz, which would make him a lawbreaker because he was not the number 1 redeemer. Then Ruth might be sent back to Moab. In his extreme consideration for her, Boaz gave Ruth six measures of barley. This is a good reason for a woman to return home early in the morning. The action of giving her as much grain as possible is a token of Boazs consideration for Ruth, who feels for Naomi, her mother-in-law. It also reflects Boazs resolution not to avoid his duty, hiding himself behind the first candidate of redeemer. The third key to achievement is being in someone elses shoes with our consideration and careful expression of our love for them.
4. We should not rest from having consideration for each other. Ruth brought home some barley. But Naomi was not interested in it. Actually, Naomi had sat up all night waiting and praying for Ruth, the channel of Elimelechs family redemption, where Jesus was to be born. Naomis asking 'How did it go?' was a translation of the Hebrew 'Who are you?' Through this, Naomi is asking Ruth if her identity might be changed as Boazs bride. Ruth understood this and talked about what Boaz did for her mother-in-law, focusing on his special concern for Naomi providing her with six measures of barley. Both Ruth and Naomi were perfect models of consideration for others. This is the fourth key to achievement. In Ruth 1:21, Naomi says “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.” Hearing Boazs instruction for Ruth, 'Dont go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed,' Naomi must have been thrilled, taking it as Gods answer. Returning to the house of bread after long days of emptiness, she finally met Boaz, who will fill her house with his helping hands. By holding on to the Word and worship, we will also find our Boaz.
5. We should not rest from waiting After doing our best, we need to wait for Gods action. Naomi was able to wait silently because she believed that Boaz would not rest until his matter is settled. This resonates with us the Lord who works day and night for our salvation. Never give up or go back no matter what happens in our faith life. Keep on sowing your seed of faith with courage and self-control. And see Christ, who works even now at the right hand of the throne of the Lord. What then should we do while waiting for Gods will? Psalm 40:1 says, ' I waited patiently for the LORD he turned to me and heard my cry.' We need to pray while waiting. God trains us through prayer. Even under a difficult situation where we go nowhere, we need to listen to the Word, looking for Gods disposition every day. God is working right next to us.
Here is a testimony of our community. 'We married quite late. To me, swearing is an alien words. However, my husbands lips drip with swearing wherever he is. So one day I swore at him while washing dishes. Later my 5-year-old daughter also swore. Shocked, I curbed my tongue. For three years, my husband kept swearing even while driving to our small group meeting. One day I told him that it might be worse if he couldnt let his steam out by swearing. And I stopped nagging him. Instead, I consoled him when he swore. For 12 years, Ive endured his swearing as my application. Thus our life may seem desolate. However, when we lay down our desire for salvation, we will experience the wonderful power of sharing our life. May Gods blessing be on us that we live a life of great spiritual achievement through this application!
Then Naomi said, 'Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.' (Ruth 3:18)
