Ruth, Chapters 3 and 4

Ruth: Chapters 3 and 4

Read: Ruth 3:1-4

• Principle #7: Family Care
  • We are to do whatever we can to help meet the valid needs of others within our family relationships

• Naomi cared deeply about her daughter-in-law’s special needs
• Boaz also demonstrated concern for Ruth, especially when he discovered that she was one of his relatives by marriage
• Jesus addressed this issue directly when He confronted the Pharisees and the teachers of the law
  • They had devised a set of technical rules whereby people could classify their material possessions as being devoted to God
  • This they were legally freed up from having to take care of their parents
  • Sadly, the Pharisees developed these traditions to keep more money for themselves, even when their parents had special needs
  • Jesus directed some of His sharpest barbs toward this kind of hypocrisy
    • Read: Matthew 15:5-9
    • Paul also addressed this issue:
      • Read: 1 Timothy 5:8
      • The Scriptures extend this principle to the large family of God
        • Read: James 2:15-17

Question: How can we practice this principle effectively without enabling those who are engaging in irresponsible behavior?

Answer:

• Principle: Economic responsibility
  • To help believers become dynamic witnesses in this world, we must encourage them to practice a biblical work ethic.
    • Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
    • The Thessalonians had made great practice in loving one another, but Paul was concerned that they never allow irresponsibility to creep into their work ethic
    • Apparently, come of the new Christians were not having an honorable witness among their unsaved neighbors because of economic irresponsibility (v 12)

Read: Ruth 3: 5-11

• Principle #8: Moral Purity
  • Regardless of the non-biblical values that permeate many cultures today, we are to be committed to moral purity
  • The story of Boaz and Ruth is a refreshing love story reflecting God’s intentions for relationships between unmarried men and women
  • Against the backdrop of the sordid events recorded in the book of Judges, the Holy Spirit has brought us a story of light in the darkness
  • It is possible to be morally pure, no matter the circumstances
  • The Roman society in many respects reflected the perverted values often described in the Old Testament
  • Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, who were converted to Christ in the midst of this culture
    • Read: 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-5
    • The author of Hebrews added,
      • Read: Hebrews 13:4

Question: Since today we live in cultures that blatantly defy God’s moral laws, how can we help young and old alike to develop a moral value system that conforms to the will of God?

Answers:

• Principle: Moral Purity
  • To live with God’s wisdom. We must avoid all forms of immorality
    • Read: Proverbs 2:11-22

• Principle: Modeling Godliness
  • To be able to communicate the message of godliness to all ages, we are to exemplify Christ-like qualities consistently in our own lives
    • Read:1 Timothy 4:11- 5:2

Read: Ruth 3:12-18, 4:1-10

• Principle #9: Family Redeemer
  • To reflect noble character, we are to demonstrate respect and concern for one another
  • In the laws of Israel, God had provided a plan for protecting the interests of the needy members of the extended family
  • In Ruth’s case, it involved producing an heir for a relative who had died- her father-in-law, Elimelech
    • Read: Deuteronomy 25:5-10
    • AND to redeem the land that a poor person, Naomi, had sold outside the family
    • So Ruth had a right to ask for this protection
      • Principle: Maintaining Justice
        • We must thoroughly investigate any accusation of wrongdoing against a member of the body of Christ (or anyone else, for that matter)
        • Boaz knew that another relative had the right of first refusal
        • Boaz went through the proper procedures and channels, and the other man gave Boaz the right, not only to acquire Naomi’s property, but also to secure Ruth as his bride.
        • With that public action, Boaz once again demonstrated why he was a prominent man of noble character
        • As Christians, we are to be above reproach in everything we do
        • This is what characterized young Timothy, who lived in Lystra, a pagan city of Galatia.
          • When Paul met this young man, he was very impressed with what he heard;
            • “the brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him.” (Acts 16:2)
• Timothy’s character was verified in three ways:
  • Good things were said about him
  • More than one person said good things about him
  • People in more than one place said good things about him
• We should have the same goal- to be above reproach, particularly in respecting the rights of other

QUESTION: What are some specific steps we can take to develop a good reputation among both Christians and non-Christians- that is, to be men and women of noble character?

Answers:

• Principle: Have A Profile of Christian Maturity
  • Read: 1 Timothy 3: 1-7
  • Specific qualifications

1. Above reproach ( a man with a good reputation)

2. The husband of one wife (morally pure)

3. Self-controlled (balanced in words and actions)

4. Sensible (wise and humble)

5. Respectable (a good role model)

6. Hospitable (unselfish and generous)

7. An able teacher ( a capacity to communicate sensitively)

8. Not addicted to wine (not addicted to any substance)

9. Not a bully (not abusive)

1. Gentle (sensitive, loving and kind)
2. Not quarrelsome ( not argumentative and divisive)
3. Not greedy (not materialistic)
4. Manages his own household competently (a good husband and father)
5. Not be a new convert (a seasoned Christian)
6. A good reputation among outsiders (a good witness in the community at large)

• Principle- Leaders who are appointed to serve in the shepherding roles in the church are to be selected based on comprehensive biblical criteria for measuring Christian maturity

• Principle: Doctrine of character
  • When using Paul’s criteria for selecting spiritual leaders, we should allow a certain amount of freedom so as to be culturally relevant, but we should never compromise God’s standards of maturity

Read: Ruth 4:11-12

• Principle #10: Marital Commitments
  • When entering a marriage relationship, we should plan a public ceremony to demonstrate our lifelong commitment
  • Boaz was a devout Jew who loved God and His laws
  • Ruth was a Gentile by birth her left her idolatrous environment to become a dedicated follower of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
  • Together, this couple in the presence of the elders of the city, gave witness to the whole Bethlehem community that they were entering this marriage relationship with God’s blessing and the blessing of their family and friends

Read: Ruth 4:13-22

• Principle #11: The Family of God
  • We should use this beautiful love story to remind ourselves that through faith in Jesus Christ, we become spiritual brothers and sisters
  • There is a much greater story beyond the relationship between Boaz and Ruth
  • He became her family redeemer, but from the union eventually came another family redeemer, The Lord Jesus Christ
  • Read: Matthew 1:1, 5-6
  • It’s not an accident in God’s plan of redemption that Rahab, a converted Canaanite prostitute, is included in Jesus’ genealogy
  • Furthermore it is providential that Ruth, a Gentile convert, is also included in this lineage
  • In God’s timing, King David descended from these relationships
  • David, in turn, foreshadowed the blessed Son of David, Jesus Christ, who died and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world- both Jews and Gentiles- so that we could be one eternal redeemed family
  • In this sense, Christ is our eternal family redeemer
  • Read: Ephesians 1:7-8
  • And finally, as members of God’s family, we are to “show family affection with brotherly love” and “outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10)