Don't be so Ruthless....Chpt 2

So where are you in life right now? Content? Searching? Waiting? Life has its twists and turns, trials and tribulations. It is these trials and tribulations, these twists and turns, that define us. Not the trials themselves, but our response to these trials. Trials and tribulations will come, it's a guarentee. In James 1:2-4, it doesn't say consider it joy if you face a trial, but when. When. Believe it or not, this temporary world can only offer you things that like it, will pass. Everything ages, moth and rust destroy, like it or not.

Your response to trials is dependent on where your house is built? House? Yeah, the house of your trust, your foundations.

Matthew 7:24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Jesus, like James, says WHEN the rains come, not if. Where is your trust built? Have you built your house on sand or on stone? I guarentee that a house built on the Cornerstone cannot be shaken, but why take my words, why not look to a living example of this: Ruth.

In Chapter 2 of Ruth we see Ruth and Naomi go out together to the land of Moab. Here, the book introduces to us another character, Boaz. We know that Boaz was in some way related to Naomi, however, Ruth is never told of this, so she has nothing to motivate her into working. Ruth isn't told to do anything, she does it on her own.

Ruth 2:2 "So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor." And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” Ruth just went. She was the perfect picture of what Proverbs 16:3 tells us, "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." You can replace the word thoughts with plans, similar to Jer 29:11 and the word commit hear means to literally rollover on to. We must roll over our works onto the Lord, roll over our lives onto Him and in doing so, our decision making will become wiser.

Ever prayed this? "Lord, open doors for me Father. Take me from this place I am in, I hate it Lord, please place me where it is you want me." It is an honest prayer, and sure we can be dissastisfied with our current state, but what if we are where He wants us and we are letting our selfishness get in the way of His vision for our lives?

How can we expect God to do something with us on a larger scale, if we aren't willing to accept where it is He currently has us? It is all about humility. Humble yourselves before Him, and He will lift you up. He gives grace to the humble. Asking God to move you on because you think you are ready to is an act of pride and pride means you're putting yourself before God, and that isn't wholehearted service. As I say this, I am speaking it to myself. I forget that God has me in this workplace for a reason. In a sense, this workplace is my trial, and while I don't understand fully why it is I am here, I have to do His work and be about the harvest.

I imagine Ruth spent some nights wondering why it was her husband had to pass, and why it was she was at this point in her life gleaning in the fields for food like poor person. In those days to glean was to pick up the outer shell of the grain once the grain had been picked. It was the for the poorest of the poor who had little eat. Ruth, in faith, went and did the work of a harvester. Little did she know, she was gleaning in the fields of Boaz and that her work and her devotion to Naomi had found favor in his heart. Boaz, in seeing this, not only praised her for her work and dedication, but fed her, cleaned her, provided her work, and kept her safe.

Matthew 6:31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

My favorite part about Ruth though, was her decision making while she served. Notice in verse 23 it says, "So she stayed close by the young women" which is to say she didn't stay close to the young men. She knew if she did, she would be tempted, and in her temptation, might give in. Remember in 2 Timothy it tells us to not give our enemy any reason to cause him to hold something against. She played it smart. In fact she played it so smart, that she remained in the fields until the harvest was complete. She saw her work through.

I can't count the number of times I have prayed that God would open a door up for me. How many times I have neglected my current state. A friend sent me this verse yesterday and it really sank into the depths of my heart. 1 Cor 7:17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Ruth knew her place, she knew her role, it was to be about the harvest, for the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. We don't always like where it is He has us, however, we can make the most of it (Eph5:16). Stop praying that God might move you where you want to go, and start praying that He might show you the harvest in your current place, and see it through!

Why would you be thinking about picking corn if you were sitting in the middle of a field of grain? First, pick grain, then once you have harvested all the grain He has for you, then He will move you on to the next field. While you pick grain remember that in being obedient out of love, He will provide, all these things shall be added unto you, He won't let the righteouss fall....(Psalm 55:22)