We have come to the end of Ruth this week. Just a short 4 chapters that are packed full of character qualities and insights into the future for the Jews and the world to come. It’s a beautiful story filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! Did you catch that?
Ruth 4
As you know if you’ve had a chance to read through the chapter, Ruth’s story comes full circle, beauty from ashes. Along with Ruth, Naomi’s wounds are healed with new hope and new life. Boaz has the opportunity to be blessed by God far beyond what he could have imagined.
The quick synopsis includes the follow up to Ruth making it clear to Boaz that she wanted him to marry her, redeem their family property, and continue the line of Elimelech so their family could continue to enherit the property. He accepts and goes through the proper channels to make the offer to the closest relative first. When he turns the offer down, Boaz makes the exchange official before witnesses.
Rather than continuing to show us how the lives of Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi play out, this chapter concludes with the insight of Boaz’s blessing and their permanent place in the line of David that leads to Christ. The ending can not be any happier than that one!
What matters the most in this chapter and really throughout this story is family. The redemption that we talked about last week, was demonstrated through family.
The fruit of the Spirit, little known to them, was all shown to and through the family.
We could talk about who family is. Do you have to be a blood relative to be family? Not according to Ruth and Naomi.
More importantly, the lessons we can learn from their family matters are how to be a fruitful family member. To whomever crosses our paths.
Lessons
F is for friendly. Boaz was friendly, he demonstrated care and concern not only for relatives, but his workers, and I could argue for his village, in that he was highly respected and that does not come without love and concern for others over self.
R is for righteous. Boaz, Ruth and Naomi all showed us what right, godly living looks like and what a difference it makes in the people’s lives who witness it.
U is for unity. The bond between Ruth and Naomi is strong. It began with a common faith and purpose. They were committed to love God and each other!
I is for intention. Naomi’s intention was to protect and provide for Ruth. Likewise Ruth to Naomi. Likewise Boaz to both of them. They were committed and did not let hardship or other issues distract them.
T is for trust. They all trusted in God first. Because of their lifestyle and relationship with God they were able to build trust in each other as well.
challenge
What kind of fruit do you see in your life? Do you care about and reach out to others? Is your every day life in step with God? Are you united with your family of God in one faith one purpose? Are your choices lining up with that same purpose and made with intention? And is your trust in God and in His family growing?
These are some questions to ponder that should lead to small changes in your thoughts and actions that will turn in to FRUIT.