Sermon Series: The Nobility of God's Nobodies

Ruth–Trusting in the Providence of God

Ruth 1; 4:13-22

PSBC 10/8/00 AM

In a nutshell: Ruth will teach us three important truths about how we can be happy and strong and brave, knowing that our every day, hour and moment are in the trustworthy hands of God. 1. God is at work in everyone's life; 2. God is intentionally achieving His purposes; 3. God wants us ready to work with Him.

I. Introduction

A. West Side Baptist Church in Beatrice, Nebraska.

Normally all of the good choir members of the West Side Baptist Church in Beatrice, Nebraska came to church on Wednesday night to practice, and most of them even came early. That meant they showed up well before the 7:30 starting time. But one night, March 1, 1950, one by one, two by two, they all had excuses for being late.

-Marilyn, the church pianist overslept on her after-dinner nap, so she and her mother were late.
-One girl, a high school sophomore, was having trouble with her homework. That delayed her, so she was late.
-One couple couldn't get their car started. They, and those they were to pick up, were subsequently late.
...In fact, all eighteen choir members, including the pastor and his wife, were late. Every single person had a good excuse. So, on that Wednesday evening, at 7:30, the time the choir rehearsal was supposed to begin, not one soul was in the choir loft. This had never happened before.

But here's the rest of the story. That night, the only night in the history of the church that the choir wasn't starting to practice at 7:30, was the night that there was a gas leak in the basement of the West Side Baptist Church. At precisely the time at which the choir would have been singing, the gas leak was ignited by the church furnace and the whole church blew up. And the furnace room was right below the choir loft!

That, my friends, is an example of the providence of God.

B. Christopher Columbus

In the middle of the 15th century, a man by the name of Christopher Columbus was walking on a country road on a hot day. He was discouraged over the events of his life. As he walked by a monastery he felt the urge to get a drink of water. He entered the monastery, asked for a drink of water, and sat down to rest. As he was being refreshed with his glass of water, an old monk listened to his story of how he wanted to go on an expedition to find another land.

That old monk listened to his story. And when it was all over, Christopher Columbus went on his way. But what Columbus didn't know was that the old monk was a personal friend of Queen Isabella of Spain. Upon Columbus' departure the monk immediately went to see his queen, and convinced her to finance the expedition of Christopher Columbus to the new world. The discovery of the Americas took place, all because a thirsty man wanted a drink of water.

That, my friends, is an example of the providence of God.

C. Two churches in Missouri becoming one

In 1996, the Bishops of the Free Methodist Church moved our family from Upland, California to St. Louis, Missouri to help a struggling group of people form themselves into a viable church in that fast growing area of the country. Almost immediately upon arriving in St. Louis, I received a call from Dave and Corrine, a couple in Nebraska, who were contemplating moving to St. Louis to plant a church under the auspices of the Reformed Church in America–which is the church I grew up in. I encouraged them and gave them some advice about the area. And soon they moved out.

We became friends with this couple. I even had Dave preach for me when I went on vacation, before they actually held services for their new church. Our church grew slowly, but steadily. His started out with a bang, but gradually began to slip in attendance and commitment. But in the meantime, they were able to find a storefront in which to meet for worship and Christian education, and provide office space for the pastor and volunteers.

Three years later, God moved us here, and three months after that God led Dave and Corrine to give up their dream of planting a church in St. Louis. But what neither of us planned or imagined, took place shortly after we both left. Because of our friendship and the subsequent relationship that was built between the two groups of people, the two churches merged. The Reformed Church had a building, but a small congregation. The Free Methodist Church had a larger congregation but no building. It was a perfect marriage, and God is growing that new church and allowing it to have a significant impact in the western suburbs of St. Louis, today.

That, my friends, is also an example of the providence of God.

II. Transition to Trusting in the Providence of God

A. Define Trust in the Providence of God

This morning we are going to examine a very important tool that each one of us needs to have in our spiritual tool boxes and use every moment of our lives if we are going to be able to do Great Commission work in the Coachella Valley and the world, like our purpose statement says.

The tool I'm talking about is TRUST IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

One of the best descriptions I've found of what this tool looks like comes from the author and theologian, Henry van Dyke, who wrote the words that are on the front of your bulletins this morning.

Happy and strong and brave shall we be–able to endure all things, and to do all things–if we believe that every day, every hour, every moment of our life is in God's hands. (Henry van Dyke, The Upward Path.)

And this morning, we're going to look at the life of a young lady in the Old Testament, who will teach us three important truths about how we can be happy and strong and brave, knowing that our every day, hour and moment are in the trustworthy hands of God. Her name is Ruth, and her story is found in the book that bears her name.

B. Background of Ruth

The book of Ruth comes immediately after the book of Judges in our Bibles for good reason. That's because historically, the story of Ruth, took place during the time of the judges of Israel. In my opinion, what makes this book so precious is not the fact that it is a beautiful love story with a happy ending (although it is...), but that it is a story that shows us how God is at work in people's lives. In other words, it illustrates God's providence, and gives us hope that we can trust our very lives to that providence, no matter what stage we find ourselves in, or what circumstances we find ourselves in right now.

C. Re-cap the story of Ruth

If you're not familiar with the story of Ruth, let me give it to you in capsule form. A man, Elimelech, and his wife, Naomi, both God-fearing Jews, left Canaan during a famine and tried their luck at homesteading in the neighboring country of Moab. While in Moab, their two sons reached adulthood and took Moabite women for their wives. But soon Elimelech died, followed not too long afterwards by both of his sons. So, at the beginning of the book of Ruth we have three widows wondering what they are to do because of the circumstances of their lives.

Naomi, the mother-in-law, decides to go back to Canaan, her homeland, and live out her days with her relatives. Ruth, one of Naomi's daughters-in-law decides to leave her homeland of Moab, her native customs and her native religion and go with Naomi to Canaan and claim Naomi's God as her own. The other daughter-in-law decides to remain in Moab.

So, here we have this quiet, unassuming young woman, a widow, poor, a foreigner who is not even a part of the nation of Israel, in whom God displays His marvelous providence.

III. 3 Truths About God's Providence

A. God is at Work in Everyone's Life

Ruth 2:1-3
1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter."
3 So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

I love that phrase in verse 3, "As it turned out..." That doesn't speak to something that just randomly happened, but it speaks about God's providence. God was directing Ruth's steps in the beginning of her entrance into Naomi's family, and continued to do so as time went on. Just think about it....
-Ruth–from Moab–as it turned out, became a part of a Jewish family by marrying one of Naomi's sons.
-Ruth's husband, as it turned out, died, having produced no children.
-Ruth, as it turned out, out of all the fields in the area, chose the field of Boaz, to glean grain for her and Naomi.
...then if you were to read farther in the book, you'd see that...
-Ruth, as it turned out, met Boaz, a relative of her late father-in-law.
-Boaz, as it turned out, because he was related to Ruth's father-in-law, was an official kinsman-redeemer for Elimelech's widow (Naomi) and her family (Ruth). His job was to see to it that Ruth and Naomi were taken care of.
-Boaz, as it turned out, fell in love with Ruth.
-Boaz, as it turned out, married Ruth, started a family with her, and rescued her and Naomi from poverty.

Now here's the first truth about the providence of God. He doesn't just do providential work in Ruth's life. God is at work in everyone's life. But the way He works in everyone's life is divided into two camps.

1. Believers

If you are a person who has trusted Jesus Christ to be the forgiver of your sins and are following Him as the leader of your life, you are a Christian. You are in the first of the two camps. God's providence works in your life like this...

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Illustration: A friend of mine met with a Christian woman whose life was a mess. Her marriage was on the rocks, she had had an emotional breakdown, her social life was in ruins and yet when she came to ask for his help she was wearing a sweatshirt which had the slogan on it, "Jesus is the answer." My friend took one look at it and said to her, "I think you should scrap the idea that Jesus is the answer. Because He never said that. He said, 'I am the way.' I think that you need to walk with Him to find the answer to your problem."

And friend, if you're a Christian that's how God's providence works in your life. He doesn't promise easy answers, but He does promise to be there with you to guide you to solutions. Your job is to take hold of His hand and follow His lead, not yours.

If you do, all things will work for the good–because you are loving Him and following the purpose He's called you to do–which is Great Commission work.

And if you are still confused about Great Commission work–please open your Bible, and underline these two verses–Matthew 28:19-20. Then go to any pastoral team member that is pictured in your worship folder, and ask him to help you understand what that means. And I promise you, we will.

2. Non-believers

Now, if you're not a person who has trusted Jesus Christ as the forgiver of your sins and you are not following Him as the leader of your life, you are in the second camp. We wouldn't call you a Christian according to the Bible's definition, but because you're here this morning, we could consider you a seeker. And friend, listen to me... just because you haven't made that commitment to Jesus Christ, doesn't mean that you are excluded from having God at work in your life.

John 6:40
40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

God is chasing after you because He loves you. He doesn't want you separated from Him and going to Hell at the end of your life. He doesn't want you without "the way" to get through life's problems and difficulties. So, God initiated a plan. Jesus Christ, God Himself, paid the debt accumulated by your sin to a just and holy God. He offers a way out of the consequences for your sin. By asking Jesus Christ to be the forgiver of your sin and by purposing in your heart to follow Him as the leader of your life, God makes an exchange take place. You are given all the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and God takes away any unrighteousness you may have accumulated. And this doesn't cost you a cent. It is free. It is what the Bible calls a gift of grace–just because God loves you. That's God's providential plan for you, if you don't have a relationship with him, yet. What's stopping you? If you want to know more about this relationship and how to enter into it, you can go to any pastoral team member that is pictured in your worship folder, and ask Him to help you understand it and enter into it. And I promise you, we will.

B. God is Intentionally Achieving His Purposes

The second truth about the providence of God is illustrated in

Ruth 4:13 &17
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
17 The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Here's the second truth about God's providence... God is intentionally achieving His purposes.

From the love and faithfulness of Naomi toward her foreign born daughter-in-law, Ruth...
...and from the obedience and submission of Ruth to the instructions and direction from her mother-in-law, Naomi...
...Ruth and Boaz met, fell in love, were married, and had a son.
That son became very important in God's ultimate purpose. That son was the grandfather of the man who became the great king of Israel–King David. But that's not all. From David's lineage came God's son, Jesus Christ, born of the virgin, Mary, who came from that family line of David.

Through Ruth, God intentionally achieved His purpose that is clearly stated in...

John 3:16
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ruth was an important link in the chain of events that brought the Savior to the world.

Friends, God isn't done with the chain. God is still at work to intentionally achieve His purposes.
-It is no accident that you live in this Coachella valley on October 8, 2000.
-It is no accident that you are living in the home or apartment or community you are living in.
-It is no accident that the circumstances that have happened in your life have served to mold and shape you as they have.
-It is no accident that you are attending this church this morning.
-It is no accident that you have the friends and family that you have.
-It is no accident that you make contact with certain individuals on a regular basis.

It is all because God is intentionally at work superintending the events of your life to achieve His purposes–sometimes these are realized very quickly–sometimes they are realized very slowly–but God is always moving intentionally to accomplish His will–which as we saw from John 6:40...

"that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life"

Now, that brings me to the final truth about God's Providence.

C. God wants us ready to work when He moves us.

The final truth about God's providence is that God wants us ready to work when He moves us.

Ruth 3:5-6
5 "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered.
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

When the time was right, Naomi gave Ruth some very specific instructions to carry out, to show Boaz that Ruth was interested in marriage. I'm sure they sounded a little strange to Ruth. She was to go and lay at Boaz's feet until he woke up and covered her with his robe.

Now, these weren't Moabite customs. They were strange things to Ruth. But when she was told this is what she should do, she did it. The point I want you to see is that Ruth wasn't passive in what she was asked to do. She didn't complain. Rather, she became an active participant.

So, how do we become active participants in doing what God wants done?

Illustration: I'm told that there is a certain harbor in Italy that can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between many clusters of dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have been wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted on three huge poles in the harbor. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he's off course and in danger.
Friends, God has also provided three lights to guide us in doing what He wants done. And it's interesting that the same rules of navigation apply–the three lights must be lined up before we should proceed. Our three lights that guide us into doing what God wants done are:

1. The Word of God –You must come to trust it and know it, as it's taught from the pulpit; as you discuss it in your Enrichment classes and Flock groups ; and as you read it for yourself.

2. The Holy Spirit –this is your conscience; or that small voice inside you; or that thumb in your back, pushing you to do something. None of these things happen by accident. They are a result of the Spirit of God taking up residence in you and beginning to work in you. Don't expect that spirit it be silent. Expect it to be active.

3. Circumstances –If God is at work in everyone's life and God is intentionally achieving His purposes, then we need to open our eyes to what's going on around us. We need to stop going through life like Christian zombies. We need to recognize that the circumstances that happen to us, the people who come into our lives, and the opportunities to talk or share or show kindness are God ordained to accomplish His will and allow you and me to do Great Commission work in the Coachella Valley and the world.

If you line those three things up–God's Word, the Holy Spirit and Circumstances, you will be well on your way to active involvement in doing Great Commission work in the Coachella valley and the world. If you don't, you'll be merely a spectator to what God is doing.

IV. Conclusion

So, let me ask you a final question. Take a look again at the fronts of your worship folder...
Are you happy and strong and brave to be able to endure all the things, and to do all the things that are happening in your life right now?

If you're not, then I can pretty much surmise that you're not trusting fully in the providence of God, and also, you're probably not being used much by God to do any kind of work, let alone His Great Commission work.

Why would you settle for so pointless an existence–by ignoring the providence of God?

God is at work in everyone's life
God is intentionally achieving His purposes
God wants us ready to work when He moves us.

Florence Nightengale, the founder of modern nursing, and a follower of Jesus Christ said this to someone who wanted to write her biography...

"If I could give you information of my life it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything."

That can be said of every man woman and child in this room today, as well. But it starts by trusting in the providence of God.

Amen.