[ Click here to go back to the main page ]
The Lesson of Ruth
April 3, 2006 Greetings in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

What is the lesson of Ruth? Of course, it is a beautiful picture of our Great Redeemer redeeming us, heathens born in sin, unto Himself. Yet there is another life lesson in that beautiful little book. A lesson that has escaped today’s church. Perhaps this is why we labor so hard and yet enjoy so little of the harvest.

Remember the passage where Naomi directs her daughter-in-law to go glean in the fields of their relative Boaz:

“And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, ‘Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.’ And she [Naomi] said unto her, ‘Go, my daughter.’” Chapter 2, verse 2

When Boaz learns of Ruth’s activities, and of her faithfulness to her mother-in-law, Boaz directs his men to leave some of their grain behind for Ruth:

“And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, ‘Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: and let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.’” Chapter 2, verses 15 and 16

Ruth brings home about seven gallons (an ephah) of grain for Naomi and herself. It was an unexpected bounty!
A little later in the book, we find Naomi instructing her daughter-in-law again. This time she tells Ruth to wash herself and go lay at Boaz’ feet after he has finished threshing the grain, eating and drinking:

“And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. And she said unto her, ‘All that thou sayest unto me I will do.’” Chapter 3, verses 4 and 5

Boaz awakes, surprised to find Ruth laying at his feet. This time, it is Boaz who gives Ruth instructions. He tells her:

“And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman…Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth.” Chapter 3, verses 11 and 13

And we know how Boaz did not let the matter rest until it was resolved as Naomi had predicted. He went to the city gate and redeemed the field which belonged to Naomi’s husband Elimelech and Ruth along with it. And the scripture says:

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.” Chapter 4, verse 13

Then we know that the women of the town prophesied over the boy saying that he would be famous in Israel. Thus, Ruth, the Moabitess, the foreigner grafted into the Vine, became the great-grandmother of King David. By lying at Boaz’ feet, instead of working in his fields, she got the owner of the fields, the entire harvest and all the benefits that came with her master.

What is this lesson? God will provide us a portion if we work in His fields. However, we can have it all if we lay at the Master’s feet! WE CAN HAVE THE ENTIRE HARVEST IF WE LAY AT JESUS FEET!

Do not mistake what I’m saying. I am not another television preacher saying that you can be rich because you’re a child of the King. No, I am saying that this passage shows us that we will get our reward if we work hard. But, then it contrasts how much greater the yield of the Harvest (disciples) will be if we depend on our relationship with and the power of God Almighty and the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Shepherds, this does not mean we can lie around and do nothing. Instead, it means don’t get the cart before the horse. We can’t give what we don’t have and we can’t teach what we don’t know. We must take time every day to know God through consistent devotional Bible reading and prayer—not for our next sermon—for us! Lay at Jesus feet! When we know God in a supernatural way, then we have a Pentecostal God to offer to a lost and dying world.

For the Gospel’s Sake,

Brother Mike

[ Click here to go back to the main page ]