Stewardship and Generosity

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear? ’For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:19-34, NRSV)

It is really easy to say to not worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. But how many of us wonder if we will have enough tomorrow?

But then there are some of us who have more than enough, and shouldn’t we share what we have with others, but then if I share I won’t have as much anymore so when is enough enough in sharing?

Or when is enough enough for me to have and not have to worry?

If you show me your checkbook I can show you where your heart’s desire is. You see money and treasure is a tool and a blessing that God has given us. Now does that mean if we don’t have a lot of wealth we are not good followers of God? No, it doesn’t. It means God has given you what He has given you.

You see we are all blessed by God with what we have in our lives and it is our need to share what He has given us so He can continue to bless us.

I heard a quote that needs to be the way we live our lives. “I drink from the saucer because my cup overflows.” We should all drink from the saucer because of the blessings we have been given.

How can we align our lives so we are focused on what we can do for God with our abundance, rather than worrying about our lack of anything?

The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David. (Ruth 4:18-22, NRSV)

This is not the beginning of the descendants of Jesus or the end, but it is a part that needs to be known. Ruth is a direct descendant of Jesus and is important to our faith.

You are in the lineage of Jesus and Ruth’s story is part of your story.

How do you share the story of your faith with others so that might know how they are connected to Jesus?

The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.”Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:13-17, NRSV)

The woman then blessed Naomi who didn’t see the blessing that Ruth was to her. Naomi told the women to call her Mara at the end of chapter 1 because she was bitter and that is how her life was, but she did not see Ruth who was standing right beside Naomi as she said this to the women. Naomi didn’t recognize the blessing that Ruth was to her. Ruth became more to Naomi than 7 sons would have been. Ruth gave her Obed, an offspring, who became the father of Jesse, who is the father of David who will be king of Israel!

You see sometimes we miss the blessings that are right in front of us.

How many times have you missed a blessing in front of you?

The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; and, through the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” (Ruth 4:11-12, NRSV)

So Boaz acquired the land and Ruth as his wife and a blessing from the elders who witnessed the transaction.

That as they witnessed the deal, they blessed Ruth to be as a woman like Rachel and Leah who built the house of Israel, and like the house of Perez. A rich house filled with children.

And may Ruth be like Leah and Rachel who built the house of Israel…

Ruth is the great-grandmother of David, who is the forefather of Jesus the savior of the world!

This woman truly had a hand in the building of a nation!

How do we help spread the news of God in our lives?

The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, “Acquire it for yourself,” he took off his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses.” (Ruth 4:7-10, NRSV)

So Boaz removed his shoe and purchased the land and legally acquired Ruth as his wife.

Since the unnamed relative was not able or unwilling to marry Ruth and carry on Elimelech/Mahlon’s name Boaz was able to marry Ruth and provide for her and Naomi.

Would we be so bold as to do this for a relative?

How much are we willing to give to help others live?

The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

Then Boaz said, “The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance.” At this, the next-of-kin said, “I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” (Ruth 4:5-6, NRSV)

But after the next of kin realized that he would have to marry Ruth to get the field, he could not do it. It would ruin his own inheritance so he was not willing to do that.

Are there things you are not willing to do?

Sometimes we are called to do things we are not ready to do. This was not something this man was willing to do, but Boaz was willing. He stepped in and filled the void.

When have you filled the void?

The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, “Come over, friend; sit down here.” And he went over and sat down. Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here”; so they sat down. He then said to the next-of-kin, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you.” So he said, “I will redeem it.” (Ruth 4:1-4, NRSV)

Boaz was good on his word from the end of chapter 3. That he would go to the next of kin and see if he wanted to make good on fulling what needed to be done on the law.

Boaz went to the city gate and said Naomi had a field that she was selling and it should go to the next of kin, will you buy it. And the next of kin said yes, but will he actually fulfill the law?

You see sometimes things look good at the first look, but then they get more complicated.

Do you always jump in with both feet or check it out first to see what the full picture is?

The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, “Come over, friend; sit down here.” And he went over and sat down. Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here”; so they sat down. He then said to the next-of-kin, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you.” So he said, “I will redeem it.” Then Boaz said, “The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance.” At this, the next-of-kin said, “I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, “Acquire it for yourself,” he took off his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses.” Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; and, through the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.”Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David. Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David. (Ruth 4:1-22, NRSV)

So Boaz saw the next of kin and took with him 10 men as witnesses and sat down at the city gate, where men met to talk business and weather. The city gate would be the local McDonalds for coffee… The place where men gathered to discuss the doings of the day.

And Boaz said that Naomi was selling a field and asked if the next of kin wanted to acquire the field, and of course the next of kin did until he heard that a wife came with the field. Becuase now his of spring would not be his, it would be Elimelech’s. So he passed it on to Boaz, and to seal the deal, Boaz removed his shoe and acquired the land and Ruth as his wife.

And when they had consummated the relationship they had a son who is the grandfather of David, and so in the lineage of Jesus.

A foreigner, a stranger is the lineage of Jesus…

How do we care for the other is how we care for Jesus.

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.” (Ruth 3:16-18, NRSV)

Ruth returned to Naomi with the grain Boaz had given her and reported all that happened. Naomi knew that Boaz would be gracious and caring.

Are we gracious and caring with the people we deal with in our lives?

Are we caring for those who can not care for themselves?

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, “It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” Then he said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. (Ruth 3:14-15, NRSV)

She left before anyone would see since Boaz was not the next of kin so there would be no questions. Seems a little underhanded for a story from the Bible. But I believe it shows us that God can and does work in and through all circumstances. Becuase Boaz was an honorable man. He gave Ruth six measures of barley to take back to Naomi.

Even in what some would see as shame and darkness, the light and love of God shines through.

How do we shine the light and love of God in our world?