As we finish the book of Ruth what this list of names all about? Shouldn’t they be riding of into the sunset and living happily ever after? Instead we just get a list of names, what that about? Well they do live happily every after, actually because of what Boaz and Ruth did we all live happily ever after. That final name is all-important to you. It’s important to your mates at college, it’s important to your friends at school; it’s only massively important to the world. There are many predications from people in the know, in the Old Testament that say Jesus would come from the family of David. So David the last name mentioned in the book of Ruth was the great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather of Jesus, who came to save the world. OK I am missing a quite a few greats but you get the idea. OK so the fact that Jesus came form the family of David is yet more proof that he is the true Messiah, but what difference does that make to us outside of that fantastic news? Well the son of Boaz and Ruth, Obed was David’s great grandfather. Are you getting the picture? The descendent of two every day ordinary people, who just did the right thing, became our saviour. The DNA of these two guys was in Jesus, in the same way that the DNA of your parents is in you. It’s amazing how God will use you when you do the right stuff. How’s God going to use you?

As we finish the book of Ruth what this list of names all about? Shouldn’t they be riding of into the sunset and living happily ever after? Instead we just get a list of names, what that about? Well they do live happily every after, actually because of what Boaz and Ruth did we all live happily ever after. That final name is all-important to you. It’s important to your mates at college, it’s important to your friends at school; it’s only massively important to the world. There are many predications from people in the know, in the Old Testament that say Jesus would come from the family of David. So David the last name mentioned in the book of Ruth was the great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather of Jesus, who came to save the world. OK I am missing a quite a few greats but you get the idea. OK so the fact that Jesus came form the family of David is yet more proof that he is the true Messiah, but what difference does that make to us outside of that fantastic news? Well the son of Boaz and Ruth, Obed was David’s great grandfather. Are you getting the picture? The descendent of two every day ordinary people, who just did the right thing, became our saviour. The DNA of these two guys was in Jesus, in the same way that the DNA of your parents is in you. It’s amazing how God will use you when you do the right stuff. How’s God going to use you?

So Boaz strolls off to see the guy who is first in line to buy the land that Naomi is selling. The guy’s first thoughts are this is a good deal “Ill buy it.” But he forgets the consequence of that action. Boaz says, “of course if you buy the land by law you must take Naomi or Ruth as your wife.” He soon changes his mind when he realises this isn’t a get rich quick scheme and actually he will have to look after the wellbeing of two others. Boaz knew this all along and Boaz is willing to take on the consequences of his actions. That’s the same for us in our lives isn’t it? It doesn’t matter what we do, good or bad there are consequences to our actions. If we do stuff that’s hurts others, or ourselves there are consequences. We can go to God and say sorry and we will be forgiven, but there may still be consequences on this Earth. Murderers have been known to repent turn to God and say sorry, but they are punished anyway. If we abuse our bodies with drugs that is still going to impact our health, even when we ask for forgiveness and God has forgiven us. Of course we can pray that God will also heal us of the damage we have caused as well as forgive us. There are also good consequences. If we help others, there are consequences to our actions. We get a good rep, at school or college; we get to be known as someone that you can rely on. Also Jesus says that we will be rewarded for our good deeds. The consequence of our good actions isn’t to get us into Heaven, Jesus did that, but the consequence of our good deeds is that we will be rewarded. It seems to me that what ever we do God or bad we will have an impact on our future. Whatever we do good or bad just like Boaz we should be ready to put up with the consequence of our actions.

So Boaz strolls off to see the guy who is first in line to buy the land that Naomi is selling. The guy’s first thoughts are this is a good deal “Ill buy it.” But he forgets the consequence of that action. Boaz says, “of course if you buy the land by law you must take Naomi or Ruth as your wife.” He soon changes his mind when he realises this isn’t a get rich quick scheme and actually he will have to look after the wellbeing of two others. Boaz knew this all along and Boaz is willing to take on the consequences of his actions. That’s the same for us in our lives isn’t it? It doesn’t matter what we do, good or bad there are consequences to our actions. If we do stuff that’s hurts others, or ourselves there are consequences. We can go to God and say sorry and we will be forgiven, but there may still be consequences on this Earth. Murderers have been known to repent turn to God and say sorry, but they are punished anyway. If we abuse our bodies with drugs that is still going to impact our health, even when we ask for forgiveness and God has forgiven us. Of course we can pray that God will also heal us of the damage we have caused as well as forgive us. There are also good consequences. If we help others, there are consequences to our actions. We get a good rep, at school or college; we get to be known as someone that you can rely on. Also Jesus says that we will be rewarded for our good deeds. The consequence of our good actions isn’t to get us into Heaven, Jesus did that, but the consequence of our good deeds is that we will be rewarded. It seems to me that what ever we do God or bad we will have an impact on our future. Whatever we do good or bad just like Boaz we should be ready to put up with the consequence of our actions.

There is a lot of doing the right thing here. We have seen Ruth’s character in the past few chapters and we know that in a tough situation she does the right thing, she does the correct thing. Now we see Boaz, in a situation that could tempt him to do the wrong thing. But Boaz is a man of character as well he does the correct thing, he does the right thing. How do we handle these types of situations at school, college or work? Do we do the right things; do we do the correct thing? I know that all too often I have made the wrong decisions in my life. I remember being at school and choosing whether to join in with bulling someone or not. I joined in the bulling, even though I too was bullied at different times and knew how it felt. I remember at college being late with some assignment and having to make the choice to be honest or hand in someone else’s work. A few changed words later and I made the wrong decision as I handed someone else’s work in as mine. Did I do this because I knew no better? No I knew the difference between the correct and the wrong choice and just chose to ignore it. Does this mean that I could never make the right choice? Does this mean that I am so bad that God wouldn’t want to know me? No No No! God loves me so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross for my selfish acts. And God has worked in my life and changed me for the better little by little. These days it is still hard but I am making better choices. God also loves you too. He also sent Jesus to die on that Cross for the selfish things you do. He also wants to work in your life helping you become the very best you can be. He wants to help you make the correct choices, the right choices.

There is a lot of doing the right thing here. We have seen Ruth’s character in the past few chapters and we know that in a tough situation she does the right thing, she does the correct thing. Now we see Boaz, in a situation that could tempt him to do the wrong thing. But Boaz is a man of character as well he does the correct thing, he does the right thing. How do we handle these types of situations at school, college or work? Do we do the right things; do we do the correct thing? I know that all too often I have made the wrong decisions in my life. I remember being at school and choosing whether to join in with bulling someone or not. I joined in the bulling, even though I too was bullied at different times and knew how it felt. I remember at college being late with some assignment and having to make the choice to be honest or hand in someone else’s work. A few changed words later and I made the wrong decision as I handed someone else’s work in as mine. Did I do this because I knew no better? No I knew the difference between the correct and the wrong choice and just chose to ignore it. Does this mean that I could never make the right choice? Does this mean that I am so bad that God wouldn’t want to know me? No No No! God loves me so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross for my selfish acts. And God has worked in my life and changed me for the better little by little. These days it is still hard but I am making better choices. God also loves you too. He also sent Jesus to die on that Cross for the selfish things you do. He also wants to work in your life helping you become the very best you can be. He wants to help you make the correct choices, the right choices.

We may not understand this kind of action in our culture, and it may even appear to be wrong to us. I am sure if you went and laid at the feet of someone who you wanted to get to know better, you would soon end up in trouble. But this was the custom of Ruth’s time and this was her saying to Boaz, I am here ready to be your wife, I am available to you. What a risk she was taking, this guy appeared nice but now well did she really know him? Once she did this, there was no going back. Once she did this in her culture that was it she was committed. How often do we turn away from commitment? Come to think of it, have we, have you offered that kind of commitment to our creator God? How you lay at the feet of God and said to him, I am here, I am available for you to do what you want to with me? Or are we worried about that commitment. In the same way that Boaz will not take advantage of Ruth, our God will not ask us to do anything we are not equipped to do. If we go and say to our God I am here use me for what you want that is real commitment that is Ruth commitment.

We may not understand this kind of action in our culture, and it may even appear to be wrong to us. I am sure if you went and laid at the feet of someone who you wanted to get to know better, you would soon end up in trouble. But this was the custom of Ruth’s time and this was her saying to Boaz, I am here ready to be your wife, I am available to you. What a risk she was taking, this guy appeared nice but now well did she really know him? Once she did this, there was no going back. Once she did this in her culture that was it she was committed. How often do we turn away from commitment? Come to think of it, have we, have you offered that kind of commitment to our creator God? How you lay at the feet of God and said to him, I am here, I am available for you to do what you want to with me? Or are we worried about that commitment. In the same way that Boaz will not take advantage of Ruth, our God will not ask us to do anything we are not equipped to do. If we go and say to our God I am here use me for what you want that is real commitment that is Ruth commitment.

Boaz sounds like a warriors name doesn’t it. Boaz the great. Boaz the mean. Boaz the incredible. You could picture someone with a name like that stood in a suit of armour and waving a broadsword above his head. But he was actually a rich businessman. We are told that he had land and workers. If Boaz was alive today he might own a chain of mobile phone shops, or he might be a web entrepreneur. He would be Boaz the businessman, Boaz the tycoon. Can you imagine what he would do if he caught people rummaging through his bins for old mobile phones. What would he do if Ruth came to his clothes factory and started taking all the clothes he couldn’t sell? Chances are that many businessmen today would call the police. But that is exactly what is happening here; Ruth is collecting the left over grain that his workers have missed. Boaz doesn’t call he police, no he sees someone in need and he gives her more, his giving knows no bounds. What happens to us when we see someone in need? Does our generosity know no bounds? When we see someone who needs friendship at school or college do we give them our time? When we seem someone who needs help, do we go the extra mile to do all that we can do? It is easy in this world that has so many needy people to go blind to those needs right in front of us. Boaz was a warrior, Boaz was incredible; and with Gods help you can be incredible, you can be a warrior to those who need your help.

Boaz sounds like a warriors name doesn’t it. Boaz the great. Boaz the mean. Boaz the incredible. You could picture someone with a name like that stood in a suit of armour and waving a broadsword above his head. But he was actually a rich businessman. We are told that he had land and workers. If Boaz was alive today he might own a chain of mobile phone shops, or he might be a web entrepreneur. He would be Boaz the businessman, Boaz the tycoon. Can you imagine what he would do if he caught people rummaging through his bins for old mobile phones. What would he do if Ruth came to his clothes factory and started taking all the clothes he couldn’t sell? Chances are that many businessmen today would call the police. But that is exactly what is happening here; Ruth is collecting the left over grain that his workers have missed. Boaz doesn’t call he police, no he sees someone in need and he gives her more, his giving knows no bounds. What happens to us when we see someone in need? Does our generosity know no bounds? When we see someone who needs friendship at school or college do we give them our time? When we seem someone who needs help, do we go the extra mile to do all that we can do? It is easy in this world that has so many needy people to go blind to those needs right in front of us. Boaz was a warrior, Boaz was incredible; and with Gods help you can be incredible, you can be a warrior to those who need your help.

There is an old saying that says “what goes around, comes around.” It basically means that if you are mean and horrible to people, you might seem to get away with it in the short term, but in the long term the same will happen to you. In the same way, if you are nice to people and do things the right way in the long-term things will work out well for you. That’s what is starting to happen for Ruth. She has done the right thing by Naomi, and hung in there with her. In the short-term that caused her some pain and hardship. However now people around her are seeing what she has done, and are starting to be nice and help her. Those guys at school and college, who seem to have a great time by being mean to others, won’t succeed in the long run. They might seem to be popular and get everything they want now; but if they are gossiping and bullying you can be sure they will lose out in the long run. In the same way if you, or those that you know are trying to do right by people that will be noticed in the long run. Those around will notice it, and it will be noticed by God. God calls it building up treasures in Heaven, in his Bible. This simply means that you can be guaranteed even if no one on this Earth notices God does and he will reward you when you stand in front of him. Because ultimately good and bad, black and white, women and man we all get to stand in front of God and explain the good and bad we have done on this Earth.

There is an old saying that says “what goes around, comes around.” It basically means that if you are mean and horrible to people, you might seem to get away with it in the short term, but in the long term the same will happen to you. In the same way, if you are nice to people and do things the right way in the long-term things will work out well for you. That’s what is starting to happen for Ruth. She has done the right thing by Naomi, and hung in there with her. In the short-term that caused her some pain and hardship. However now people around her are seeing what she has done, and are starting to be nice and help her. Those guys at school and college, who seem to have a great time by being mean to others, won’t succeed in the long run. They might seem to be popular and get everything they want now; but if they are gossiping and bullying you can be sure they will lose out in the long run. In the same way if you, or those that you know are trying to do right by people that will be noticed in the long run. Those around will notice it, and it will be noticed by God. God calls it building up treasures in Heaven, in his Bible. This simply means that you can be guaranteed even if no one on this Earth notices God does and he will reward you when you stand in front of him. Because ultimately good and bad, black and white, women and man we all get to stand in front of God and explain the good and bad we have done on this Earth.

How quickly our moods change. Earlier Naomi had taken charge of her life and wasn’t being put down, but instead had got up and done something about it. But we are human and our moods and attitudes can change so quickly. Now she’s blaming God for all that has gone wrong. God did this to me, God did that to me. The reality is God didn’t do anything to her. But aren’t we the same at school and college? When we make a decision and run into problems do we blame others? Maybe we decide that we will do our work the day we get it and not leave it to the last moment. We are OK for a week, and then we get distracted and fall behind. What is our reaction? Do we get back on track, or do we start making excuses and start blaming others? Maybe we decide to attend the Christian Union at school or college every week. We do it for a month and then one day we forget it, because our mates invite us somewhere else. When we realise do we make sure we go next time? Or do we say well if God had wanted me there he would have reminded me, and give up? Maybe we should look at Ruth as an example. She decided to go with Naomi and that was her decision. When Naomi sent her and her sister in-law back Ruth had one answer. She said “No the decision has been made and I will not give up on it, or you.” When we pray to God for guidance on a decision we can expect him to answer us. That doesn’t mean things won’t go wrong along the way. However when they do go wrong, ask God for help and get back on the track, Just like Ruth.

How quickly our moods change. Earlier Naomi had taken charge of her life and wasn’t being put down, but instead had got up and done something about it. But we are human and our moods and attitudes can change so quickly. Now she’s blaming God for all that has gone wrong. God did this to me, God did that to me. The reality is God didn’t do anything to her. But aren’t we the same at school and college? When we make a decision and run into problems do we blame others? Maybe we decide that we will do our work the day we get it and not leave it to the last moment. We are OK for a week, and then we get distracted and fall behind. What is our reaction? Do we get back on track, or do we start making excuses and start blaming others? Maybe we decide to attend the Christian Union at school or college every week. We do it for a month and then one day we forget it, because our mates invite us somewhere else. When we realise do we make sure we go next time? Or do we say well if God had wanted me there he would have reminded me, and give up? Maybe we should look at Ruth as an example. She decided to go with Naomi and that was her decision. When Naomi sent her and her sister in-law back Ruth had one answer. She said “No the decision has been made and I will not give up on it, or you.” When we pray to God for guidance on a decision we can expect him to answer us. That doesn’t mean things won’t go wrong along the way. However when they do go wrong, ask God for help and get back on the track, Just like Ruth.

Wow Naomi has had a real run of “bad luck”. First she has to move countries because of famine, then her husband dies, and finally her sons die. Wow she really must feel like God isn’t looking after her. For a woman to be without a husband in that culture is bad enough, but to be without sons is life threatening. Naomi would have had no source of income and would have been completely vulnerable to any man. So what does Naomi do? Does she moan and gripe, swear at God, and give up and die? No Naomi gathers up the little she has, grabs her daughter in-laws and says right let’s get ourselves into a situation that is better than this one. That is some lady, a lady with vision and a lady with determination. Not only that she says to her daughter in-laws, “look you are actually better of here with your family, go to them Ill be OK” That’s a lady who puts others before herself. What do we do when times get tough? Do we blame God? Or do we seek Gods guidance, take a deep breath and go for it? In today’s world where some people seem to think they are owed something; it is becoming an unusual trait to have the “get up and go” to do something about your own situation. So next time you look a situation at school or college that looks rubbish think of Naomi. Next time you look at something that seems impossible, think about this woman who had nothing, but still had the get up and go to walk back to her home country even when all the odds were stacked against her.

Wow Naomi has had a real run of “bad luck”. First she has to move countries because of famine, then her husband dies, and finally her sons die. Wow she really must feel like God isn’t looking after her. For a woman to be without a husband in that culture is bad enough, but to be without sons is life threatening. Naomi would have had no source of income and would have been completely vulnerable to any man. So what does Naomi do? Does she moan and gripe, swear at God, and give up and die? No Naomi gathers up the little she has, grabs her daughter in-laws and says right let’s get ourselves into a situation that is better than this one. That is some lady, a lady with vision and a lady with determination. Not only that she says to her daughter in-laws, “look you are actually better of here with your family, go to them Ill be OK” That’s a lady who puts others before herself. What do we do when times get tough? Do we blame God? Or do we seek Gods guidance, take a deep breath and go for it? In today’s world where some people seem to think they are owed something; it is becoming an unusual trait to have the “get up and go” to do something about your own situation. So next time you look a situation at school or college that looks rubbish think of Naomi. Next time you look at something that seems impossible, think about this woman who had nothing, but still had the get up and go to walk back to her home country even when all the odds were stacked against her.