Hello Everyone,
I pray that everyone had a blessed week last week. I know personally, God has truly been challenging me in my life. Not only through these lessons, but through my church bible studies, personal bible studies, life challenges and faith walk. The more I delve into the word of God and strive to walk closer with Him, the more challenged I am to make pertinent changes in my own life. How could I possibly post this blog weekly and broadcast the word of God to all of you if I am not willing to grow in it myself?
Lately, the attacks of the enemy have been centered around my physical body and spiritual development. It is mind boggling how the two will go together. Both parties work harmoniously for you or against you. If your body is weak, it starts to affect the mind which can sometime determine the spiritual health, and vise verso. However, God is a God of faithfulness (Psalm 91:3-6).
This week we will discuss God's faithfulness. God is an ever present help (Psalm 46:1). We cannot assess with our finite minds the level of faithfulness God has towards us. We practice unfaithfulness as often as we can based on God's definition of faithfulness. God was faithful to the Israelites despite their griping and complaining. God was faithful to David despite his adulterous and deceitful ways. God was faithful to Peter, Paul, and even Judas. Do we have the faithfulness of our Lord and Savior?
Ruth did, and God sent her Boaz.
Resource
Ruth 3: 6-18
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. 7 And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, "Who are you?" So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative." 10 Then he said, "Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. 12 Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for-good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning". 14 So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." 15 Also he said, "Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "Is that you, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her. 17 And she said, "These sixephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, "Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law." 18 Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."
Faithfulness - fidelity; steadfastness; allegiance; loyalty
Lesson
The definition of faithfulness alone sparks a conviction of my own inapt attempt at faithfulness. When the definition is combined with the biblical context, it creates a new level of desire for God's help; God's help to practice faithfulness.
Ruth practiced humility, she exhibited obedience and she was faithful. She was all of these things to God that she hardly knew. We know God and we have trouble practicing these characteristics. Because Ruth was honoring her mother-in-law, a servant of God, then Ruth was honoring God. She practiced faithfulness out of obedience and humility.
The importance of loyal love is evident in the Book of Ruth (Allen, House, & Radmacher 1999). Loyalty is a characteristic of faithfulness. Ruth practiced a level of faithfulness without the prospect of reward. She left her own homeland in Naomi's time of need (Allen, House, & Radmacher 1999). Ruth's faithfulness was evident in the eyes of God.
Not only does this passage reveal Ruth's faithfulness, it also brings light to what type of woman she was and what type of man Boaz was. In verse 11, Ruth is described as a virtuous woman. Many commentaries describe a virtuous woman based on the Proverbs 31; which in many translations she is married. However, when the original scriptures were translated into English the description was diluted through the translation. Therefore a virtuous woman as depicted in Proverbs 31 does not necessarily have to be married; verse 11 of Ruth supports this notion. Ruth was clearly widowed (single) and is denoted as a virtuous woman in verse 11 of Ruth. The relevance of this is that she is practicing the principles of the virtuous woman; she is positioning herself to receive her blessing. This part is for you single women! Furthermore, she is positioning herself, unknowingly, to a Godly man; Boaz! By staying humble, practicing obedience and exhibiting faithfulness to the authority that God placed over her, Ruth positioned herself to receive Boaz!!!
Ruth's faithfulness brought her Boaz, a Godly man, unwilling to tarnish her existing identity as a virtuous woman (verse 14). Not only does he honor her as a virtuous woman, he introduces a closer walk with God (verse 12) and covers her (verse 13), then blesses her (verse 15). Hallelujah!!! Oh the glory of God through our faithfulness!!! These are the characteristics that will identify your God sent Boaz single women!!
Could you imagine the overflow of blesses that God would release if we would just practice some faithfulness!! I am overwhelmed at the possibilities of God's greatness!!
While this message carries a strong baring to single women, it is definitely universal to areas of all lives. We all have areas where we could be a little more humble, obedient and faithful to the avail of God.
Application
This week we will pick one area of focus in our lives where we strive to be a little more faithful. I charge us all to take that extra step of inconvenience to ourselves in order to practice faithfulness. Make the sacrifice and bless the kingdom of God through your faithfulness in one area. I would love to hear some testimonials.
I pray that you all will have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
References
All scriptures are extracted from The Bible - New King James Version. YouVersion (2013)
Allen, Ronald B., House, H. Wayne, & Radmacher, Earl (1999). New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tennessee.
Henry, Matthew (1999). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible. Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tennessee.
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