08(Ruth 01) Being a Friend to the Friendless

Being a Friend to the Friendless – Ruth 1

I.       Naomi – friendless

A.     Retreating to the past (Ruth 1:6)

§  Failure to fit in

§  Background left her unequipped for the future.

B.     Feeling unworthy (Ruth 1:13)

§  Low self-worth

C.     Fearing the future

§  Bad circumstances

§  Tragedy, mistakes, sin

II.    Ruth – being a friend

A.     Staying connected (Ruth 1:9, 10, 14, 18)

§  Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

§  Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

B.     Offering encouragement.

§  Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

C.     Sharing the future (Ruth 1:16, 17)

III. How to be a friend to the friendless

A.     Reconnect with someone who fell through the cracks.

§  James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

§  James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.

B.     Encourage someone no matter what.

§  Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

C.     Share the struggle with someone.

§  Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.