There is No Such Thing as Coincidence

Introduction: Most people have a television show or two that they really enjoy, perhaps even more so than all the others. For me, that show would be NCIS. I like them all. I like the original, which is set in Washington, DC. I like the second series, which is set in Los Angeles, CA. I even enjoy the most recent addition to the lineup which is set in New Orleans, LA. My favorite, though, is definitely the original series. I know all the characters, even the ones who have left the show and been replaced by others. I have watched every show in every season for 18 seasons. In fact, I have watched the first 15 seasons no less than 3 times...every episode. I know...I have a problem. But here’s why I bring it up.

The main character of the original series is named Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He is a Marine Corps veteran who now leads a team of agents for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He is somewhat of a legend. One of the things that makes him a legend is his list of rules. He has written down rules stemming from his vast experiences over the years. Here are some examples: Rule #3 - Never be unreachable. Rule #9 - Never go anywhere without a knife. Rule #23 - Never mess with a Marine’s coffee if you want to live. And then there’s the rule that just happens to be the title of the sermon today, Rule #39 - There is no such thing as coincidence.

I resonate with this rule on a deeper level because of how true it really is. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe with all my heart that God is the sovereign creator and ruler of the universe. Nothing escapes his glance and nothing happens without filtering through his almighty hands. Therefore, I believe there is no such thing as coincidence. There is no such thing as luck. These are just man made conventions to keep God out of the conversation. Well, as we continue our study verse by verse through the book of Ruth, I believe it will become more and more clear that there really is no such thing as coincidence. God really is at work.

1. Recognize your need for the grace of God (1-3)

Naomi has a relative on the side of Elimelech

He was a prominent man; strong and mighty

He was a man of noble character; a man of standing

Danny Akin calls him “a spiritual knight in shining armor”

He is the type of man young men should emulate

He is the type of man young women should be looking for

His name was Boaz

Ruth wants to do her part to try to support herself and her mother-in-law

She “happened to be” in the part of the field that belonged to Boaz; see Proverbs 16:9

2. Recognize your redeemer and his provision (4-16)

Boaz comes from Bethlehem to check on his fields

He sees Ruth, recognizes that he doesn’t know her, and inquires about her

Boaz’ servant fills him in on Ruth’s story

She is the Moabite woman who returned with Naomi

She asked if she could gather some of the leftover grain

She has been working all day except for a little rest time

Boaz speaks to Ruth himself

Don’t go anywhere else to any other field; stay in my field

I have commanded all my workers not to touch you

If you get thirsty, feel free to drink from the jars the young men have filled

COMPLETE REVERSAL OF CULTURAL CUSTOMS

Ruth humbled herself before Boaz; she asked why he would be so kind to a foreigner

Boaz tells her he has heard her story and all she has done for her mother-in-law

He asks the Lord to bless her for all she has done; she has sought refuge with God

He allowed her to sit at his table and eat until she was satisfied; even had leftovers

He arranged for her to gather an abundant harvest in his field

ILLUSTRATION:Notice how Boaz and Ruth were introduced to one another. This was not planned out by either of them. There was no matchmaking going on by some of their friends. They were simply doing what God had called them to do and God crossed their paths. If you are a single person here today, let me share with you some really good wisdom from Danny Akin (SEBTS): “As a single person, it is far more important for you to BE the right person rather than to BE IN SEARCH for the right person.” Boaz was not looking for a wife. Ruth was not looking for a husband. They were both being who God wanted them to be and God brought them together.

3. Recognize your responsibility to share in the harvest (17-23)

Ruth took advantage of the kindness of Boaz and worked until evening

She gathered about an ephah of barley; more than 5.5 gallons; 30-50 pounds

In one month, the duration of barley/wheat harvest, she had enough food for the year

Ruth brought her leftover food home to Naomi so she could eat as well

Naomi wanted to know where Ruth had worked during the day; the Lord bless that man!

Ruth told Naomi she had worked in the fields of Boaz

Naomi knew he was; she blessed him for his kindness

She told Ruth he was one of their close relatives; one of their “family redeemers”

Naomi encouraged Ruth to continue working in the fields of Boaz for protection and provision

Ruth continued to work with Boaz for the remainder of barley and wheat harvests

She lived with Naomi; she maintained her godly character

Conclusion: Let me share with you just one final detail, on a personal note. I’ve been wanting to tell this to somebody all morning. Last year I read the Bible all the way through chronologically. This year I wanted to do something a little different. I still wanted to read the Bible every day, but not necessarily straight through. So I picked 6 or 7 different reading plans ranging from 10 to 90 days each and made sure they equaled up to 365 days. That way I would still read the Bible every day. Now, when I plan my preaching schedule I pray about what God would have us to study and then I outline a book of the Bible to teach through it. Well, I knew we would have just spent the better part of a year in the New Testament going through the book of Acts, so I had a conviction about going to a book in the Old Testament. Ruth came to mind, along with the other minor prophets that we hadn’t studied yet. So I planned to preach through Ruth after we finished up with Acts. Now let me show you how God works.

Today is the 108th day of 2021 and the 38th day of my current Bible reading plan which highlights the wisdom literature of Scripture. The first book of this reading plan is Job. So this morning I read the 38th chapter of Job. Today is the 2nd week of our sermon series on Ruth. That means I am preaching the 2nd chapter of Ruth which highlights the sovereignty of God. Do you know what the 38th chapter of Job is about? It is the chapter when God answered Job in all his rantings and asks him where he was when God was creating the world. In other words, it is a divine declaration of the sovereignty of God. So on the day I am preaching about the sovereignty of God, my own personal, daily Bible reading is all about the sovereignty of God. Do you remember the title of the message today? “There is no such thing as coincidence.” I titled the sermon two days ago. I didn’t know I would be reading Job 38 while preaching Ruth 2.

You see, God is almighty. God is sovereign. And God is good. God provides for his people and graciously involves them in his mission in the world. We are people who have a great need and that need has been met by a great God. We have now been given a great responsibility to participate in a great mission. We have a message that is far too great to keep to ourselves. In the words of Carl F. H. Henry, “the gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.” May we do our part by the power of Christ to make that happen.