TITLE: Persistence Pays Off

TEXT: Ruth 2:1-13THEME: The believer should remain persistence in times of uncertainty.

What did Ruth do to receive the favor of Boaz (and God)?

I. In her desperation she was still willing to work hard. (1-3)

Ruth 2:1-3

Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”

Ruth 2:1-3

3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.

I. In her desperation she was still willing to work hard. (1-3)

A. Ruth had no certainty things would work out.

I. In her desperation she was still willing to work hard. (1-3)

A. Ruth had no certainty things would work out.B. Ruth understood the practice of gleaning.

Gleaning

Gleaning was the custom of allowing the poor to follow the reapers in the field and pick up and freely take the fallen spears of grain.

Lev 19:9-10

"Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.”

Deut. 24:19

“When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”

I. In her desperation she was still willing to work hard. (1-3)

A. Ruth had no certainty things would work out.B. Ruth understood the practice of gleaning.C. Ruth did not give up.

What did Ruth do to receive the favor of Boaz (and God)?

II. She was willing to make a bold request. (4-10)

Ruth 2:4-10

Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!”“The Lord bless you!” they answered.5 Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?” 6 The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi

Ruth 2:4-10

7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me.

Ruth 2:4-10

9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.” 10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me —a foreigner?”

II. She was willing to make a bold request. (4-10)

A. She asked for more than to just glean.

II. She was willing to make a bold request. (4-10)

A. She asked for more than to just glean. B. She was granted three things:

II. She was willing to make a bold request. (4-10)

A. She asked for more than to just glean. B. She was granted three things:• A Job

II. She was willing to make a bold request. (4-10)

A. She asked for more than to just glean. B. She was granted three things:• A Job• Protection

II. She was willing to make a bold request. (4-10)

A. She asked for more than to just glean. B. She was granted three things:• A Job• Protection• Water

Psalm 18:2

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Isa 43:1-3

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

Isa 43:1-3

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.

Job 1:10

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.”

Addis and Mahalik: Are men really less likely to ask for help?

• Men less frequently visit primary care physicians and other medical health specialists

Addis and Mahalik: Are men really less likely to ask for help?

• Men less frequently visit primary care physicians and other medical health specialists.

• When men do seek help, they ask fewer questions than women.

Addis and Mahalik: Are men really less likely to ask for help?

• Men less frequently visit primary care physicians and other medical health specialists.

• When men do seek help, they ask fewer questions than women.

• Although men report higher levels of substance abuse and experienced more [problems] resulting from [addictions], they are less likely to seek help for alcohol and cocaine abuse.

Addis and Mahalik: Are men really less likely to ask for help?

• Men less frequently visit primary care physicians and other medical health specialists.

• When men do seek help, they ask fewer questions than women.

• Although men report higher levels of substance abuse and experienced more [problems] resulting from [addictions], they are less likely to seek help for alcohol and cocaine abuse.

• Malso seek psychiatric services … and counseling less often than women

Addis and Mahalik: Are men really less likely to ask for help?

• Men less frequently visit primary care physicians and other medical health specialists.

• When men do seek help, they ask fewer questions than women.

• Although men report higher levels of substance abuse and experienced more [problems] resulting from [addictions], they are less likely to seek help for alcohol and cocaine abuse.

• Malso seek psychiatric services … and counseling less often than women ….

• Men have reported that they would be more reluctant to seek help, even informally from friends, and more likely to report that they would never seek [counseling] for depression.

What did Ruth do to receive the favor of Boaz (and God)?

III. Her loving and godly character was evident to everyone. (11-12)

Ruth 2:11-12

11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband —how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge?”

III. Her loving and godly character was evident to everyone. (11-12)

A. Word of it had already gotten to Boaz.

III. Her loving and godly character was evident to everyone. (11-12)

A. Word of it had already gotten to Boaz.B. Boaz rewarded her for it.

III. Her loving and godly character was evident to everyone. (11-12)

A. Word of it had already gotten to Boaz.B. Boaz rewarded her for it. C. Boaz appealed to God on her behalf.

What did Ruth do to receive the favor of Boaz (and God)?

IV. She was humble and thankful for what was given to her. (13)

Ruth 2:12

“May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”

God values both humility and gratitude.

• “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble

God values both humility and gratitude.

• “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble”

• “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.”

God values both humility and gratitude.

• “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble”

• “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.”

• 10 lepers- all were healed but only one returns to thank God for his healing.

APPLICATION

1. Many times God is waiting for just the right moment to reveal parts of his plan for you until you can’t go on, until you are ready, willing, and able to receive it. We like God to send us the playbook before the season even starts, much less before the first game. God’s perspective is this: He sees everything from beginning to end; He knows what is best for Him and for us; He never makes mistakes or contingency plans;

APPLICATION

2. In your pain, remember God’s perspective. And when He speaks clearly to you and shows you a change in your perspective that you need to make, do not harden your heart, but receive it, repent, and follow Him.

APPLICATION

3. When he does provide a way out give him the credit and glory he is due.

APPLICATION

4. Know that the path of least resistance is seldom the best path. Follow the path of faithfulness.

Rich Sterns, president of World Vision International

As Christians, we are all dominoes in the chain reaction set off by Jesus 2,000 years ago. The amazing thing about dominoes falling is that the chain reaction always starts small—with just one, seemingly insignificant domino. Whether you are sponsoring children, filling backpacks for children in inner-city schools, talking to your own children, or praying earnestly for [people around the globe], you have no idea what how big the impact will be as God multiplies your faithfulness.