I Am Ruth Thine Handmaid (Part 2)

Wade Webster

In the first part of this study, we noticed that Ruth was a faithful servant.  In this installment, we will notice two other qualities. 

A Fervent Servant

Not only was Ruth a faithful servant, she was a fervent servant.  When Naomi and Ruth arrived back in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest (1:22), Ruth came to Naomi with the request to go and glean.  She said, “Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn” (Ruth 2:2).  Please note that Ruth requested to go and glean.  She was not commanded to do so. Like the ant, she needed no overseer to drive her (Prov. 6:6-9).  Ruth was eager to go to work.  Please notice the little word “now.”  There was a fervency or urgency to Ruth’s request.  Also, please consider the action associated with Ruth in the text – “And she went, and came, and gleaned” (Ruth 2:3). In addition to getting up and going to work, Ruth stayed at work all day (Ruth 2:7, 17).  Again, this shows fervency.

Are we as fervent in the work that we have been given to do as Ruth was?  Are we self-starters?  Do we stay at it as long as she did?  To the saints at Rome, Paul wrote, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11).  “Slothful” mans “tardy” or “indolent.” Are you familiar with tree sloths? Did you know that they move very little?  In fact, they can spend their whole lives without moving from the tree in which they were born.  Paul did not want the saints at Rome to be so stationary and sedimentary.  He did not want them to be slothful servants or lukewarm laborers (Mt. 25:26; Rev. 3:15-16).  He wanted them to be “fervent.”  “Fervent” means “boiling.” He wanted them to be zealous of good works (Tit. 2:14; cf. Col. 4:12-13; 1 Pet. 1:22).  Like Ruth, we must not grow weary and quit.  We must stay in the field from morning to evening (Gal. 6:9).

A Fearful Servant

When I describe Ruth as a fearful servant, I am using the word fear in the sense of respect and obedience.  Obviously, there is a kind of fear that is condemned in servants (Mt. 25:24-26; Rev. 21:8). The fear that is condemned in Scripture is a fear that keeps us from obeying God (2 Tim. 1:7).  The fear that is commanded is a fear that motivates us to obey God (Eccl. 12:13). When Naomi decided to seek “rest” (a home) for Ruth, Ruth humbly submitted to Naomi’s plan (Ruth 3).  Please consider two things that show her submission:

•       Ruth’s promise - “All that thou sayest unto me I will do” (Ruth 3:5).

•       Ruth’s performance – “And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her” (Ruth 3:6).  

Ruth’s promise declared and her performance demonstrated great fear or respect for Naomi.   To better see this fear in Ruth’s promise, please consider some parallel statements from the life of Noah:

•       “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he…And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him” (Gen. 6:22; 7:5).

•       “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Heb. 11:7).

As you can see, Noah’s doing “all that” God commanded him demonstrated his fear or reverence for God.  The same holds true in Ruth’s case.  Although Ruth wasn’t a little girl and Naomi wasn’t her mother, she showed great respect.

What about us?  Do we show the same fear or respect toward Christ that Ruth showed to Naomi?  Do we do all that He has commanded us to do (Mt. 28:20; John 2:5; 15:14; Acts 3:22)?    If we want to be acceptable to God, then we are going to have to show great fear.  Paul wrote, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28).

I Am Ruth Thine Handmaid (Part 1)

Wade Webster

When Boaz awoke on the threshingfloor and asked who was at his feet, he received answer, “I am Ruth thine handmaid” (Ruth 3:9). “Handmaid” means “maid-servant” or “slave girl.” Both Ruth’s position at Boaz’s feet and her plea for him to spread his skirt over her demonstrate that she possessed a servant’s heart.  In the book, Ruth willingly made herself a servant of Naomi, Boaz, and God.  As individuals today who are supposed to be the servants of God and man, it behooves us to study the story of this great servant.

A Faithful Servant - Three times Naomi attempted to get Ruth to turn back to Moab (Ruth 2:8, 12, 15). Although the temptation to go back to her homeland must have been strong, Ruth refused to leave Naomi.  In fact, Ruth’s words to Naomi demonstrate a kind of faithfulness so admired that they have often been used in marriage ceremonies (Ruth 1:16-17; cf. Rom. 7:2; Mt. 19:9; Mal. 2:16).  As you know, marriage is about leaving, cleaving, and weaving (Gen. 2:24).  How sad it is that some have changed the “till death do us part” of the traditional marriage vow to “as long as love shall last.”  These individuals know nothing of the faithfulness of Ruth.   Ruth’s statement to Naomi can be broken up into three parts:

• The plea – “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee.”   
• The promise – “For wither thou goest, I will go:  and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:  thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:  Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried.”
• The punishment – “The Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:17).   Ruth’s commitment to Naomi was so strong that she bound herself under a curse.   

Clearly, Naomi took Ruth’s promise seriously.  After all, when she saw that Ruth was “steadfastly minded to go with her,” she left off speaking to her (Ruth 1:18). “Steadfastly” means “strong.” Ruth was strongly minded to go with Naomi. Baker and Carpenter suggest that the word means “to persist in an activity.”  Although Naomi could persuade Orpah, one of her daughters in law, to turn back, she could not persuade Ruth.  We read, “Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her and they came to Bethlehem” (1:22).

What about us?  Are we faithful servants?  Are we as steadfastly minded to walk with Christ as she was to walk with Naomi?  How easily are we persuaded to turn back?  Will we go on even if those closest to us turn back? No doubt, we want to one day hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Mt. 25:21).  However, to hear these words, we must stedfastly continue in the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42) and faithfully abide in Christ until death (Rev. 2:10).  Unlike Orpah, we must not turn back (John 6:66; cf. Lk. 9:62; Heb. 10:38; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).  Like Ruth, we are bound under a curse if we turn from the promise that we have made (2 Pet. 2:21; Lk. 12:47; John 15:22). William J. Reynolds, in the song, “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus,” perfectly captures the faithfulness which must be displayed by servants of God.  Please consider the words with me:

I have decided, to follow Jesus, I have decided, to follow Jesus, I have decided, to follow Jesus, No turning back, no turning back.

Though I may wonder, I still will follow, Though I may wonder, I still will follow, Though I may wonder, I still will follow, No turning back, no turning back. 

Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow, No turning back, no turning back!

The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me, No turning back, no turning back!

It should be noted that there are several versions of this song.  I picked these verses because they so closely fit the events recorded in the book of Ruth.  As in the song, Ruth three times made the decision to go with Naomi.  No doubt, as in the song, Ruth wondered and had many questions as she left her homeland.  Yet, she did not let these questions stop her from following Naomi.  Furthermore, as in the song, Ruth returned even though Orpah wouldn’t go with her. Finally, as in the song, she put Moab, the only world she had ever known, behind her.

Let’s See How They Are Doing

David Sproule

Unquestionably, the apostle Paul was one of the greatest soul winners of all time!  We could learn a lot by trying to emulate his love for lost souls and his determination to teach the good news of “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2) to every individual he encountered (from the lowliest of slaves to the highest of kings).  But, there is something more we can learn from this great apostle.

Paul was not merely concerned with getting folks baptized.  Are we guilty of that sometimes?  Do we focus so much on the culmination of seeing someone immersed into Christ that we neglect to follow up in the days after their conversion?  When Paul was getting ready to embark on his second missionary journey, he said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing” (Acts 15:36).  Did you catch that?  Let’s go and see how they are doing!  Their continued growth as babes in Christ was so critically important!

That reality has not changed!  Just as newborn babies need special care and attention until they grow to take care of themselves, so babes in Christ need special care and attention until they mature to a stronger faith in Christ.  They need this attention from the elders.  They need this attention from special programs in the church.  Truly, they need this attention from every member of the body of Christ.

Brethren, do you know someone who was recently converted to Christ?  Maybe in the last few weeks, but even in the last year or two?  Let us make up our minds to see how they are doing by:

1. Texting them.  Just a short note of encouragement from a fellow Christian can make a huge difference.

2.  Calling them.  A text is nice but hearing someone’s voice on the phone is even better.

3.  Sending them a handwritten card.  There’s something particularly effective about seeing a message in someone’s own handwriting.  In this card you could say, “Here’s something that has helped me as a Christian—to grow and to remain faithful.”

4.  Intentionally seeking them out at services.  Don’t just wait and “if we happen to run into each, I’ll say something.”  Make it a point to find them.

5.  Spend time with them outside of services.  Build a relationship with them, so that they truly feel a part of the family of God.  What you do for them, they will do for other converts.

Let’s decide today to go and see how they are doing!  Let’s decide today to help them to remain faithful!

We Know Better Sometimes, Don’t We?

David Sproule

Did your children ever talk back to you?  Frustrating, wasn’t it?  Who did they think they were?  Why do children talk back to their parents?  It’s because they think they know better and/or because they want their way and are not interested in the parents’ way.  But, when we get older, we outgrow that “talking back” thing, right?

Interestingly, there are some who will not outgrow that “talking back” thing, even after they die.  There is an interesting account in Luke 16 of a glimpse into a scene of two men after they died.  Jesus tells of a rich man who died and went to “torments” (16:22-23).  He struck up a conversation with Abraham, whom the rich man was able to see “afar off” in Paradise.  He begged Abraham to send the beggar named Lazarus, who was in Paradise, to return to the rich man’s house and “testify” to his five brothers, “lest they also come to this place of torment” (16:27-28).

The rich man’s request was not going to be granted.  Abraham responded to him, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (16:29).  In other words, they have the Bible (at least the portion that had been written by this time).  Abraham said that the rich man’s brothers needed to listen to Scriptures, to which they had access.

The rich man’s retort is fascinating.  He was having a conversation with an apparent representative of God (for Paradise is called “Abraham’s bosom” in verse 22), and he was not satisfied with the information that was being given.  He quickly replied, “No, father Abraham” (16:30).  Can you imagine snapping back at a representative of God by saying, “No”?  That almost reminds you of your kids talking back to you, doesn’t it?  That’s what the rich man was doing.  “NO, father Abraham; BUT if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”  You see, the rich man, like your kids, knew better than Abraham.  He was not satisfied with the response that his brothers needed to read the Bible, and so he offered his “better” solution with the word “But” to express its superiority.

Abraham calmly replied, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (16:31).  There was one way for his brothers to come to know the truth and avoid the fiery torments, and if they ignored that one way, there was no other option that would alter their course.

Do we sometimes think we know better than God?  Do we sometimes read God’s expectations for us and think, “No.  But this idea that I have would be better”?  May God help us to learn from the rich man that we do not know better than God.  May we read, accept, love and follow the Bible.

The Stone of Navigation (Nehemiah 5)

Wade Webster

Each chapter in the book of Nehemiah gives us a stone that we must revive to rebuild the Lord’s work.  The stone in the fifth chapter is the stone of navigation.  Although Nehemiah’s leadership is seen throughout the book in various ways, it comes to the forefront in the fifth chapter.  Nehemiah leads the people through some very difficult circumstances.  We see his leadership in his indignation, his contemplation, his motivation, and his demonstration.

His Indignation

The fifth chapter begins with a great outcry of the people and their wives.  The people were facing harsh economic circumstances.  Many of them had mortgaged their lands to buy food and to pay their taxes.  Some of their children had even been forced into bondage.  To make matters worse, they were being taken advantage of by their own brethren. Their brethren were charging them usury or interest.  When Nehemiah heard of how brethren were taking advantage of brethren, he became very angry (Neh. 5:6).  Good leaders are passionate.  They feel things deeply, they care about those that they lead, and they hate injustice.  Good leaders get angry; sometimes, as in Nehemiah’s case, very angry.  In fact, they might even get angry every day.  God does.  The psalmist wrote, “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psa. 7:11).  Nehemiah had many reasons to be angry.  First, these men were violating the law of God by charging usury.  Second, these men were giving the enemy a reason to reproach them.  Third, these men were undoing the good that Nehemiah and others were doing. 

His Contemplation

Although Nehemiah was very angry, he didn’t speak or act hastily or foolishly.  He gave serious thought before rebuking those in the wrong (Neh. 5:7).  Good leaders think before they say or do something that they will later regret.  David wrote, “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (Psa. 4:4).  Good leaders are slow to wrath.  James wrote, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (Jam. 1:19-20; cf. Prov. 14:17; 16:32).

His Motivation

Good leaders are great motivators.  They know how to get people to do the right thing.  To motivate those who were charging their brethren usury to stop this practice and to restore what had been taken, Nehemiah called a great assembly of people against them (Neh. 5:7).  He wanted these men to see those that they were hurting.  Furthermore, he called the priests to take a solemn oath to ensure that those who had taken advantage of their brethren didn’t go back on their word (Neh. 5:7-13). 

His Demonstration

Good leaders don’t just talk, they do.  Nehemiah practiced what he preached.  He declared, “Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God. Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work. And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people. Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people” (Neh. 5:14-19).  Nehemiah’s life was the greatest asset that he had as a leader.

If we are going to be successful in rebuilding the work of the Lord where we are, we are going to have to revive the stone of navigation.  We are going to have to find leaders who can and will lead us like Nehemiah did his people in the long ago.