12. Ruth: Our Obedience, God’s Providence

Introduction

When I was 17, I wanted to go to college anywhere but Hannibal-LaGrange… I was frustrated because I couldn’t see God, but he was there working behind the scenes all along.

Where do you see God at work in your life? What do you do when God feels a thousand miles away? How do you know God is at work when life is hard and you can’t see what he’s doing? And how do you live faithfully as a Christian when God seems to have disappeared?

Last week, the Book of Joshua reminded us of God’s Promise, Our Response. This week, the Book of Ruth shows us Our Obedience, God’s Providence.

Let’s watch this video from our LVKids curriculum that summarizes the story of Ruth.

Big Idea

God’s providence works through our faith-in-action. God’s provision comes through our obedience.

Implications: Five Words

Faith-in-action looks like this: Loyalty. Obedience looks like devotion.

Explanation: Ruth’s loyalty (Ruth 1:14-17)

Loyalty to your family

The institution of the family is under attack in our society because it’s the institution God established for human flourishing, for multiplying God’s image in the earth, and for passing faith in God to the next generation.

Family’s not easy. We often are most hurt by those we most love. Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to ask forgiveness of (in your family)?

Loyalty to your people

Who are your people?

The people you identify with are the people you will turn into. Are your people who you want to become?

Loyalty to your God (most important)

Loyalty is a big deal to God. It’s the word used most often to describe God in the Old Testament (see Ps 86:15).

hesed = loving loyalty

God is loyal to you… Are you loyal to God?

Application: Loyalty is opposed to selfishness. If you’re only loyal when it benefits you, you’re not really loyal.

Illustration: Jerry and Lois Nelson were married 68 years. That takes loyalty!

Faith-in-action looks like this: Boldness. Obedience looks like courage.

Explanation: Ruth’s boldness (Ruth 3:6-11a)

Role reversal: Ruth asked Boaz to marry her!

Ruth was a woman, a foreigner, from a hated people group… Girl got chutzpah. (She’s got rizz.)

Illustration: I recently had a conversation with a guy who is open—not pushy, just honest—about his faith. He tells his coworkers he can’t party on Saturday night because he goes to church on Sunday morning. He tells his kids’ coaches they can’t play in the Sunday morning games because they’re commited to worship God on Sundays. He’s had so many positive conversations with unbelievers about his faith, he’s adopted this as his new outreach strategy.

Application: Where do you need boldness in your life? If you trust God, act like it.

Faith-in-action looks like this: Generosity. Obedience looks like open-handedness.

Explanation: Boaz’s generosity (Ruth 2:15-16)

Ruth was one of “the least of these.” Jesus said whenever you give food or clothing or help to one of “the least of these,” you’ve given it to him.

Illustration: Proverbs 11:24-25; 19:17 (NIV). Generosity means being open-handed…

Application: You don’t have to be stingy if you trust God to provide for you.

God’s promise looks like this: Providence. God’s commitment looks like providing for our needs.

Explanation: God’s faithfulness (Ruth 2:19-20)

It “just so happens” that Ruth meets the exact man who can redeem their family and change their lives. There are no coincidences in God’s kingdom—only divine appointments.

Illustration: When my grandpa gave his last quarter to a special offering at his church, he and my grandma didn’t have money to buy milk for their baby. That evening, a local dairy farmer just so happened to have extra milk from his cows and dropped it off at my grandparents’ house.

Application: Providence = God’s purpose through our obedience.

Faith in God produces this: Hope. Trusting God gives us confident assurance.

Explanation: Naomi’s legacy (Ruth 4:13-17)

What is hope?

“In the Bible, hope is not normally expressed as desire (something good that one would like to have happen), but as expectation (something good that one knows is going to happen and, so, anticipates).” ~ The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary

“Hope is the confidence that, by integrating God’s redemptive acts in the past with our trusting responses in the present, we will experience the fullness of God’s goodness both in the present and in the future.” ~ The Lexham Bible Dictionary

God’s Faithfulness + Our Faith in Action = Confident Assurance of God’s Goodness Now and Always

Application: Jesus Christ is our Living Hope (Titus 2:11-14). He lifted us out of the trash to make us his treasure.

Conclusion: Song & Communion