RUTH 2:1-4
GOD GOT A BLESSING FOR YOU
DR. WILLIARD HARLEY STATES THAT MOST MEN IDEA OF UTOPIA IS: AFTER WORK EACH DAY THEIR WIFE TO GREETS THEM LOVINGLY AT THE DOOR AND HIS WELL-BEHAVED CHILDREN ARE ALSO GLAD TO SEE HIM. HE ENTERS THE COMFORT OF A WELL-MAINTAINED HOME AS HIS WIFE URGES HIM TO RELAX BEFORE TAKING PART IN DINNER, THE AROMA OF WHICH HE CAN ALREADY SMELL IN THE AIR. CONVERSATION AT DINNER IS ENJOYABLE AND FREE OF CONFLICT. LATER THE FAMILY GOES OUT TOGETHER FOR AN EARLY EVENING WALK, AND HE RETURNS TO PUT THE CHILDREN TO BED WITH NO HASSLE OR FUSS. THEN HE AND HIS WIFE RELAX, TALK TOGETHER, WATCH A LITTLE TELEVISION, EXPRESS THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER PHYSICALLY, AND GO TO BED ALL AT A REASONABLE HOUR.
IF SUCH IS A FANTASY, PERHAPS YOU NEED TO WORK ON YOUR TEAMWORK. TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK (2X). AND WHAT’S GOING TO AID YOUR TEAMWORK IS A FIRM GRIP ON FOUR NEEDS THAT BOTH MEN/WOMEN HAVE. ALONGSIDE THE ROMANCE, AFFECTION, COMMUNICATION, RECREATIONAL COMPANIONSHIP, PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS, AND HONESTY, IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU HAVE A GRIP ON WHAT I REFER TO AS THE LABOR DEPARTMENT OF A RELATIONSHIP.
FOR A MAN: DOMESTIC SUPPORT AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
FOR A WOMAN: FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND FAMILY COMMITMENT.
MEN, THE WOMAN YOU HAVE MARRIED/WILL MARRY IS NOT A GOLD DIGGER, ELSE SHE WOULD NOT BE WITH YOU, BUT IN A RELATIONSHIP WHERE A SISTER HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND PROVIDED FOR BY HER DADDY, SHE SEE’S NO PURPOSE IN LEAVING THE NEST, ONLY TO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR LESS.
CONSIDER THE SINGLE SISTER CURRENTLY PAYING HER OWN BILLS, DRIVING HER OWN CAR, LIVING IN HER OWN HOUSE, FOR HER TO HOOK UP WITH A BROTHER WITH LESS THAN HER, WITH NO POTENTIAL TO BETTER HIMSELF, SHE FEELS IS A STEP BACK. AFTER ALL SHE COULD DO BAD BY ALL BY HERSELF AND BROTHERS, DON’T GET MAD AT HER BECAUSE SHE HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
A SISTER WANTS A MAN THAT CAN NOT ONLY SUPPORT HER AND THE FAMILY SPIRITUALLY, FINANCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY, BUT CAN ALSO PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE, WHERE SHE CAN NOT ONLY HAVE HER NEEDS MET, BUT A FEW WANTS EVERY NOW/THEN.
WOMEN THAT DOESN’T MEAN A BROTHER HAS TO BUY YOU A BENTLEY ON 24’S, A HOUSE IN THE 90201 ZIP CODE, BUT IT ALSO DOESN’T MEAN BROTHERS THAT SHE HAS TO GIVE UP HER APT/VOLVO, FOR A SHACK/YUGO.
AND SINCE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT FINANCES: IF WHAT YOU ARE DRIVING COST MORE THAN WHERE YOU ARE LIVING, YOU ARE GHETTO AND NEED TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING.
IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE THAT A RACE THAT ONLY COMPRISES 12% OF THE UNITED STATES POPULATION, CONTRIBUTES 30% TO THE ECONOMY, BY SPENDING 22.9 BILLION DOLLARS – CLOTHES, 11.6 BILLION – FURNITURE, 3.2 BILLION – ELECTRONICS, BUT ONLY 303 MILLION – BOOKS, AND THAT ONLY 61% OF US INVEST IN STOCKS, AND 30% OF FAMILIES THAT EARN MORE THAN 100,000 DOLLARS A YEAR, DON’T EVEN HAVE 5,000 DOLLARS IN A RETIREMENT SAVINGS, LET ALONE: AN EMERGENCY FUND.
MEN ARE WOMEN ARE WAITING ON US
FATHERS ARE CHILDREN ARE WAITING ON US
BROTHERS ARE SISTERS ARE WAITING ON US
HUSBANDS ARE WIVES ARE WAITING ON US
IN FACT, HARLEY STATES: THE BEST HUSBAND IS A GOOD FATHER. WIVES WANT THEIR HUSBAND, WOMEN WANT MEN TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE FAMILY AND COMMITT TO THE MORAL AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILD/REN.
ROOT: PROVERBS 22:6 . . . (TRAIN UP A CHILD . . .)
NOW WIVES, WOMAN AS YOUR HUSBAND/MAN PROVIDE YOU WITH FINANCIAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT, YOU’VE GOT TO GIVE HIM DOMESTIC/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. AFTER A DAY OF HUSTLE/BUSTLE, CONFUSION, THINGS OUT OF ORDER ON THE JOB, THE LAST THING A MAN WANT IS TO COME HOME TO A PLACE OUT OF CONTROL, FULL OF CHAOS AND CONFUSION, DISHES (IN/OUT – SINK), CLOTHES – FLOOR, HOUSE IN TOTAL DISARRAY.
PROVERBS 17:1 “BETTER IS A DAY MORSEL, AND QUIETNESS THEREWITH, THAN AN HOUSE FULL OF SACRIFICES WITH CONTENTION.”
BUT NOW BROTHERS . . . THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE NOT TO HELP KEEP THE HOUSE CLEAN, AFTER ALL “IF YOU HELP DIRTY IT UP, YOU OUGHTTA HELP CLEAN IT UP.”
BUT SISTER, WHEN YOUR HUSBAND HELPS CLEAN UP, EVEN IF IT’S SOMETHING HE SHOULD BE DOING ANYWAY, IT WON’T HURT YOU TO LEND HIM SOME EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH A THANK YOU OR WORD OF ENCOURAGMENT/AFFIRMATION. MEN NEED TO KNOW THAT THEIR WOMAN IS PROUD OF THEM.
ADMIRATION ENERGIZES AND MOTIVATES A MAN. YOU’LL BE SURPRISED HOW FAR A THANK YOU/WINK WILL GET YOU. YOU’LL BE SURPRISED HOW MEETING THESE FOUR NEEDS, WILL LEND TO THE SUCCESS OF A RELATIONSHIP INSTEAD OF THE CRIPPLING OF A RELATIONSHIP . . . CONSIDER OUR TEXT AND SEE HOW THESE PRINCIPLES UNFOLD/REVEAL THEMSELVES.
I. ELIMELECH’S FAMILY MOVE TO MOAB
II. MARRIAGE OF SONS TO DAUGHTERS OF MOAB
III. CENTER FOR DISEASE (2003) . . . 5-7 YEARS . . .
a. MEN DON’T GO TO THE HOSPITAL
b. DON’T ASK QUESTIONS
c. PROSTATE CANCER, HYPERTENSION
d. NUTRITION, CARDOVASCULAR, DIABETES . . .
IV. DIED – WITHOUT A FINANCIAL PLAN IN PLACE
a. LIFE INSURANCE POLICY
b. MORTGAGE PROTECTION PLAN
c. STOCKS – LIQUIDATE
d. NEST EGG – PILL FROM/FALL BACK ON
V. GOING BACK TO CALI/MOAB
a. GOD IS PASSING PUT BREAD
b. I TIMOTHY 5:8 “IF ANY PROVIDE NOT FOR HIS OWN, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSE, HE HATH DENIED THE FAITH, AND IS WORSE THAN AN INFIDEL.”
c. MAN – HOSPITAL – COIN . . .
VI. NAOMI’S RETURN
a. ORPAH (SIGHT)
b. RUTH (FAITH) . . .
c. BE CAREFUL OF WALKING/FORMING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE – SIGHT/FAITH.
VII. RUTH MOVES BY FAITH
a. WORK ETHIC – BETHLEHEM – VINEYARD
b. BOAZ’S VINEYARD (KINSMEN REDEEMER) . . .
c. AND IT’S WHILE SHE’S IN BOAZ VINEYARD . . . RECOGNIZES HER . . .
d. POSITION YOU . . . NOTICED
e. 2:5 “WHO IS THAT GIRL
i. RUTH – RAG – HEAD – LOOKED GOOD
1. EXTERNAL
2. WORK ETHIC
ii. LOOK GOOD – GOD
1. EXTERNAL EXTREMITIES
2. WORKING IN THE VINEYARD . . .
iii. BOAZ – KEEP WORKING FOR ME/MEETING MY NEEDS/PROVIDE – NEEDS
iv. GOD – CHILDREN TODAY . . .
f. 2:10: RUTH IN ADMIRATION FOR ALL THAT BOAZ – SPOKEN TO HER/DONE FOR HER
i. FELL –FACE, BOWED – GROUND –“WHY HAVE I FOUND GRACE IN THINE EYES?” . . .
WHILE YOU CAN’T SHARE WITH EVERYBODY . . . FAVOR/GRACE . . .
RUTH RUNS TO NAOMI . . .
VIII. NAOMI BROKE OUT IN A PRAISE
a. 2:20 “BLESSED IS HE OF THE LORD, WHO HATH NOT LEFT OFF HIS KINDNESS TO THE LIVING/DEAD.” NAOMI SAID – ANYBODY’S FIELD – BOAZ (KINSMEN REDEEMER) . . .
b. EXPLANATIONOF KINSMEN REDEEMER . . .
IX. NAOMI’S ADVICE
a. WASH YOURSELF
b. MAKE-UP ON
c. RED DRESS/HIGH HEELS . . .
d. HE THAT FINDETH A WIFE . . .
X. RUTH’S ACTION
XI. BOAZ’S RESPONSE
a. LOOK AROUND
b. FORESHADOW JESUS
XII. GOD’S BLESSING
a. BOAZ REDEEMS RUTH
b. BOAZ MARRIES RUTH
c. BOAZ PRODUCES FRUIT WITH RUTH . . .
i. OBED (WORSHIPPER)
ii. JESSE
iii. DAVID
iv. 28 GENERATIONS LATER
1. MATTHEW 1:17 “JESUS – ULTIMATE KINSMEN REDEEMER”
XIII. RUTH’S BEGINNING TO ENDING
a. NOTHING/SOMETHING . . .
