Genesis 38:9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

Er had committed a great wickedness against God and God took his life. Judah turned to his second born son Onan and instructed him to go into his brother’s wife and raise up a seed for his brother. Onan was willing to sleep with Tamar but rather than allow Tamar to become pregnant, Onan was selfish and he withdrew.

Onan was willing to enjoy the matrimonial privileges with Tamar but he was not willing to accept the responsibility that came with taking Tamar as his wife. Onan was not thinking about anyone other than himself and his own selfish desires. Onan chose not to think about his father, Tamar, or his brother Er.

You are not the only person living in this world. The world does not resolve around you and your selfish desires. The world does not owe you great wealth and happiness. God has commanded us to love our neighbor as ourselves. When Onan spilled his seed upon the ground, he was not demonstrating love to anyone else involved in the situation. Furthermore, Onan’s act violated one of the few commandments that God had given mankind, be fruitful and multiply.

Onan was practicing birth control. He was unwilling to allow a child to be conceived by him as the child would be considered belonging to Er. Onan did not care what God’s direction was, he simply did what he wanted when he wanted and it ended up costing him his life.

The story of Onan is the opposite of the story of Boaz in Ruth. Boaz was a man of character who was willing to raise up a child for Ruth’s first husband. Boaz had seen the character of Ruth and while technically the child did not belong to him, the whole community recognized the special work that God had done with Boaz and Ruth.

God does not approve when we selfishly pursue the desires of our own heart. Just as there were consequences for Onan being selfish, so also, if we chose to act selfishly, God will not allow us to prosper. We must learn to love our neighbor as ourselves and to put the needs of others first.

It is easy to get caught up with our own desires and our own needs. God has given us the strength to say no when we are tempted to pursue our own selfish desires. By exercising temperance in our life, we enable ourselves not to pursue what appears to be best in our own eyes but instead to pursue the perfect will of God and put others first.

The pleasures of sin last for a few minutes but the treasures of heaven last for eternity. Where is your focus, is it upon yourself and what you want or is it upon God and what HE desires of you? Onan was looking out for only one person, himself and it cost him his life. While you may not find yourself in a situation exactly like Onan, you will constantly find yourself in a position where you must decide between your own selfish desires and put others first.

Onan’s act of selfishness actually cost him his life. Had he been willing to put others first, God would not have killed him and he would have lived many more years. Onan was being selfish because he desired to live for himself and God punished him. If you fight to put yourself first, you may find that the thing you fight for ends up destroying you.

Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his MAKER: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Do you understand that God made everyone? It does not matter if you are rich or you are poor, God is your Creator. When you laugh at a person who does not seem to have it all together, you are not just laughing at that person, you are laughing at God. There could be many reasons why a person is poor; they could be poor because God is testing them like Job. They could be poor because God is trying to guide them as he did Ruth. They could be poor because they are facing the judgment of God like the nation of Israel during the time of Gideon.

There are many reasons a person might be poor. More likely than not, the reason they are poor is because they have chosen to violate the principles of God and God is punishing them for their wickedness. However, is it really funny that God must punish his creation? When you mock the poor you show a lack of understanding of the ways of God and thus God is now displeased with you.

Boaz was a wise man who when he heard that Ruth was gleaning in his vineyard made sure that she was protected. Boaz had heard of the virtue of Ruth and what she was doing for her mother-in-law. Boaz could have done nothing extra for Ruth as he was under no obligation. However, Boaz chose to help Ruth because he understood that she was in a difficult position because she had chosen to do the right thing.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Any one of us at any moment can be rich or we can be poor. God is in control. There is no such thing as a self made man. God can let the wicked prosper just as HE can allow the righteous to suffer great poverty. God has HIS reasons and who are you to judge another just because they do not have what you have.

There are times where great calamities hit this earth. It could be a hurricane, an earthquake, a volcano, a tidal wave, a twister, an ice storm, a flood, or one of the many other weather related calamities that has the ability to take the lives of those around us. Just because you escape the suffering from the calamity, it does not give you the right to make fun of those who were not so fortunate, remember, that it is God who controls the weather and these weather conditions are all in the hands of God.

It is not a laughing matter when God uses his mighty power to cause great calamity upon an area. There could be many reasons why God is allowing this to happen. It might be like Sodom and Gomorra where God allowed them to suffer because of their wickedness. It might be like the famine during the time of Jacob and God used it to direct the fledgling nation of Israel to Egypt so that they could grow in a place where they were not a threat to the nation. After the death of Jesus on the cross, God sent great darkness as a symbol of the grief of God. There are many reasons why a natural calamity can occur, and none of them are reasons for you to be happy.

You can praise the Lord when he spares you from a natural calamity, but you should not rejoice in the sufferings of another. If you feel you are becoming glad at the distress of others, you need to spend more time studying the Bible so as to add knowledge of the ways of God to your life. As you learn to understand who God is, you will learn the attitude that God desires that you have as you go about your daily life.

1 Corinthians 13:6 but rejoiceth in the truth;

Love does not rejoice in the injustices that occur in the life of others but it does rejoice when it sees the truth. Love looks for the good in others and when it finds it, it receives great joy. When Boaz meet Ruth, he went out of his way to bless her. When Ruth asked Boaz why he was being so nice to her, Boaz replied that “It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband” (Ruth 2:11).

Boaz could have been upset that another beggar was gleaning in his fields. Instead, Boaz took the time to find out who was gleaning and he went out of his way to bless Ruth because of the character that she had demonstrated. Boaz demonstrated genuine love by seeing the good in Ruth and rejoicing in the good rather than focusing upon the bad and trying to encourage Ruth to move onto another field.

Every day you interact with others. Do you naturally find the bad in others or do you seek out ways that you can praise them for the truth that is in their life. If you make it an effort to seek out the good in others, your outlook in life will change and you will begin to experience joy at seeing others do that which is right in the eyes of God. Learn to demonstrate a loving attitude like Boaz did and stop looking for a way to bad mouth those who God has brought into your life. Start asking God to give you joy as you see others put the things of God first.

1 Corinthians 13:5 seeketh not her own

Love seeketh not her own. This principle is best understood when we study Ephesians 5:28-29, when he wrote “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:” A man naturally loves himself, he understands himself and he puts his own desires a head of everything else. However, in order to love another, we have to love them as we love ourselves; that means we are willing to accept them for who they are.

If you are seeking what is best for yourself and not what is best for others, you are not demonstrating love to them. Love requires that you sacrifice your own needs in order to meet the needs of others. This means that you must stop and closely examine a person’s life so that you know what they need in order to assist them.

Ruth is an excellent example of one who sought not after her own needs. Ruth chose to forsake her own people in order to take care of her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth loved Naomi and because of that love, she gave up all hope that she would have a husband and a son. God however saw the sacrifice of Ruth and HE gave her the desires of her heart. God guided the path of Ruth so that because she loved Naomi, she caught the eye of Boaz and he was willing to love her.

1 Corinthians 13:4 … and is kind;

Love is kind. The principle of love being kind is demonstrated in the story of Ruth and Boaz. At the direction of Naomi, Ruth went to the threshing floor of Boaz and let him know that she was willing to be his wife. Boaz replied by saying Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. Ruth had many options of pursuing that which was in her best interest. However, she constantly chose to put the needs of others first. As she was faithful in serving the needs of Naomi, God used Naomi to meet the desires of Ruth to have a husband.

The word kind as used in 1 Corinthians is very similar to the word easy that Jesus used when he said in Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. One of the aspects of kindness is doing things to ease the burdens of others. Jesus gives us the opportunity to rid ourselves of our own heavy burdens of sin in order to take HIS burden. Because of HIS love for us and his kindness, he has made that yoke easy and the burden light.

If you truly love your neighbor as yourself, this means that you are kind to them. This means that you are looking for ways that you might make their life easier. Husbands and wives should be looking for ways that they can make their spouse more successful by doing things that enables them to succeed. Ruth demonstrated her love for Naomi by putting the needs of Naomi first. You can demonstrate your love for others by putting the needs of others before your own.

Ruth 2:23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of the barley harvest and of the wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

Scripture tells us that Ruth was a virtuous woman and that the entire community recognized the virtue that dwelt within her. One of the things that Ruth did to demonstrate to those around her that she was a woman of virtue has to do with how she followed the direction of her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth was a grown adult; she did not need Naomi telling her what to do and where to go. Ruth was smart enough to figure out that she could glean, why would she need the advise of Naomi.

Nonetheless, Ruth listened to Naomi and Ruth followed the direction Naomi gave her. Upon Ruth’s return from her first day of gleaning at Boaz’ field, Naomi saw how God was blessing them through Boaz. Ruth was new to the customs of Israel and while she understood that Boaz was being nice, she may not have realized just how much he blessed her with his kindness. Naomi instructed Ruth to continue working in Boaz’ fields and everyone in the community saw how Ruth followed Naomi’s advise and how she diligently gleaned in the fields of Boaz.

In addition, after the harvest, Naomi instructed Ruth how to let Boaz know that she was willing for him to fulfill his obligation as the next of kin. Ruth again could have told Naomi to mind her own business, but instead, Ruth demonstrated a humble spirit by following Naomi’s advice. Because Ruth was willing to listen and follow the counsel of others, God was able to guide Ruth in the way she should go. Ruth could have been independent, but being independent would not have demonstrated virtue.

Jesus came to this earth to do the will of God. As Jesus was in the garden, HE asked God to allow the trial of HIS death to pass away. Nonetheless, Jesus understood that it was not HIS will but God’s will that had to be done. Jesus submitted to God’s will and followed God’s direction for HIS life even though it came at a great personal cost to HIM.

God often uses others in your life to guide you to HIS perfect will. While God can and does speak directly to you, you must be aware that God also uses those around you to assist you in seeing the way God has for you. If you insist on focusing only on what you want to do, when you want to do it, you may find yourself missing some of God’s blessings that HE has for you. You often are too close to your own problems that you cannot fully see what the best course of action is. Instead, if you are willing to heed the advise of godly men and women whom God has placed around you, you will not only give others the blessing of helping you fulfill God’s will for your life but you will also demonstrate to others a meek and humble spirit that is pleasing to God.

In the multitude of counselors there is safety. If you desire to see how God will bless you and keep you and bring about HIS perfect will for your life, then you must be willing to humble yourself and listen to the advise of those whom God has placed around you. You may be old enough to be independent and to make your own decisions. Satan desires that you be proud and insist that you can hear God all by yourself. Instead, you must be willing to understand that your way is not always the best way and that God can and often does use others to direct your path.

Ruth 2:10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

Scripture tells us that Ruth was a virtuous woman and that the entire community recognized the virtue that dwelt within her. One of the things that Ruth did which demonstrated to the community that she was virtuous was her grateful heart. In this passage, we see that Boaz had just offered Ruth protection and provision if she continued to glean in his fields. Ruth did not respond in pride thinking that she deserved these good things from Boaz. Instead, Ruth humbled herself and thanked Boaz for his generosity.

Ruth understood that Boaz did not owe her a thing. According to the Law of Moses, he had to allow her to glean, but he did not have to invite her to continue to work in his field. He did not have to order his reapers to keep their hands off of her and he did not have to allow her to drink water that was drawn by his servants. Ruth recognized that Boaz was willing to go above and beyond what he was required to do and Ruth expressed her gratefulness for his kindness.

Believe it or not, people do not have to be kind to you. The nice things that others do for you, that is a gift from God that you should be grateful for. Do not forget to thank those who God has placed in your life who do good things for you. You must have a grateful heart. When someone touches your life, you must demonstrate your gratefulness for what they have done.

When was the last time you thanked God for your ability to talk with HIM? You do realize that the only reason why you have communion with God is because HE sent HIS Only Son to die on the cross for you. Because God loved you so much, HE provided a way that you can have communion with HIM. God did not have to send HIS Son to die, it was man who chose to rebel against HIM and sin.

When you add virtue to your life and put on the mind of Christ, your eyes are opened to what God and others do for you. No longer can you take for granted what others do for you. Instead, you must make an effort to thank those who have touched your life. Do you like it when you do something nice for someone and they do not thank you for what you have done in their life? Realize that people have a positive impact on your life that they love to hear you sing their praises, just as God loves to hear HIS praises when you realize that it was by HIS gift that you are able to live and have communion with HIM.

When people go out of their way to help you like Boaz did with Ruth, then you need to go out of your way to demonstrate your gratefulness like Ruth did with Boaz. Ruth was not like every other woman, Ruth had added virtue to her life and as such, she understood the importance of thanking Boaz for his kindness in her life.

Virtue will change your life. No longer will you be able to be selfish and self-centered. When virtue enters your life, you must be willing to humble yourself and recognize others for the things that they have done for you. By being grateful, you open the door to allow God to continue to bless you through those who have showed kindness to you.

Ruth 2:7b so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

Scripture tells us that Ruth was a virtuous woman and that the entire community recognized the virtue that dwelt within her. One of the things that Ruth did in order to demonstrate to all who saw her the inward character of her heart was that she was diligent in her work. Ruth was gleaning in Boaz’ field and when he showed up, he saw Ruth. He asked his servants who this woman was and his servants not only told Boaz who Ruth was, but also informed him on how diligent of a worker she was. Ruth had evidently been working for many hours in the hot sun, not taking any breaks and this really impressed Boaz’ servants. They were probably not use to seeing gleaners who were diligent.

Because Ruth was not like every other individual who gleaned but instead was diligently working to gather as much as she possibly could, those who saw Ruth understood that there was something different about Ruth. Ruth understood that the harvest season was very short and the winter long and as such, she desired to obtain as much as she possibly could during the time of harvest in order to provide for Naomi and herself.

You would be surprised at the impact you have upon those around you. People are watching how you act closer then you think. You cannot slack off but instead must be diligent in your work so as to reveal to others the inward character that dwells within you. You are not on this earth simply to see what you can get for yourself. You are here on this earth for the purpose of glorifying God. You must live your life so that when the world sees you, they see the character of Christ. Do you think that the world sees Christ in you when you are being a sloth? Do you think that the world sees Christ in you when you are being lazy? Do you think that the world sees Christ in you when you are living only for today and not preparing for the future?

You are instructed to add virtue to your life. Adding virtue is something that you must do on a daily basis. Rather than making a soft choice, you must be prepared to work hard and be diligent so that when the world sees you, they know that there is something different about you. Your life must be a testimony to the world that those who strive to put Christ first are not like everyone else.

You are not to be striving to live your life just as everyone else lives his or her life. It is not your job to see how well you can blend in with the world. Instead, your focus on life should be to see how you could distinguish yourself from the world. You will distinguish yourself from the world when you practice diligence. A person who is diligent is a prize employee to an employer. An employer may not understand why you are diligent, but they will notice that you are different.

God was able to bless Ruth because she was willing to demonstrate to the community that she was not like every other Moabite. Because Ruth demonstrated virtue in her life, God was able to use her and bless her in ways that she never imagined when she made the difficult choice to do what was right and not what was comfortable. You do not know what blessings God has for you if you would only put HIM first and strive to live your life for HIS glory. You may face some challenges but God is with you.

Ruth 2:7a And she said, I pray you let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves:

Scripture tells us that Ruth was a virtuous woman and that the entire community recognized the virtue that dwelled within her. One of the things that Ruth did in order to demonstrate to the community that virtue dwelled within her was that she asked to glean in Boaz’ field. According to the Law of Moses, it was her right to glean; yet Ruth did not assert her rights but instead, humbled herself by going to the individual in charge and requested that she be permitted to glean.

By asking for permission to do what she had the right to do, Ruth gained favor with the head of Boaz’ field. They knew who Ruth was and why she was there and as such, they did not build up any resentment towards the foreigner who was gleaning in the field. If Ruth had just showed up and started working, the head of the field would have seen her but not known who she was and naturally would have allowed some resentment of this foreign woman who chose to glean in the field he was responsible for.

By humbling herself, and asking for permission, Ruth demonstrated to those around her the inward character of virtue. As you go through life, you too have the obligation to ensure that you remain humble and not assert rights but instead do those things that will cause others to see Christ through you. Christ is the Son of God. HE has all authority. While Christ was on the earth, HE did not come as a proud man desiring to show the world HIS’ power. Instead, Christ came as a meek and lowly lamb. Christ humbled HIMSELF and did not assert HIMSELF upon others but allowed others to come to HIM.

God is your Maker. HE could demand that you accept the gift of salvation that is given you through Jesus Christ. However, HE instead allows you to make the choice whether you are going to accept HIS gift. While it is within HIS power and authority to control your life and dwell in your heart, HE desires that you give HIM the permission to do that which HE is entitled to do already.

Just as Ruth humbled herself and asked permission to glean and as God has humbled HIMSELF to give you the choice whether to accept HIS gift, so too must you learn to humble yourself rather than asserting your rights. Because Ruth remained humbled, those around her saw her inward character and this opened the door for Boaz to later be willing to marry her and support her even though she was a foreigner.

People are watching you. They do not care how well you know the rules. Instead, they are looking to see how you treat them. People do not want to be treated as mere objects that you use to live your life. You are just another human, there is nothing special about you, and thus you should be willing to humble yourself so that God receives the glory.

You never know how God is going to use those around you today to help you fulfill HIS perfect will for your life tomorrow. You cannot afford to live your life with a superior attitude. Instead, you must follow the example of Ruth and be willing to humble yourself even when it is not required to humble yourself. By demonstrating a humble spirit, God can use others to open doors that you could never image being opened up today.

Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

Ruth had just obeyed her mother-in-law by going to the threshing floor by night to let Boaz know that she was willing for him to do his duty as the next of kin. Boaz was willing to perform the duties of the next of kin even though Ruth was a foreigner because he had seen Ruth demonstrate the inward character of virtue. Boaz not only had seen Ruth’s virtue but he knew that the community also had recognized Ruth as a woman of virtue. Boaz knew that where Ruth was from was not the most important ingredient to a good marriage but the content of her heart is what he needed to examine.

It does not matter what your height, your size, your nationality, your wealth or your mental capacity is. What matters is the status of your heart. You can be a giant or a midget but if your heart is not in the right place, you are just another sinner in need of God’s redemptive work. You can hide the condition of your heart for just so long, but eventually, the fruit of your hands will reveal to the world the condition of your heart.

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth does speak. If you are a person of character, then the world will naturally see that you are different based upon how you interact with others. Boaz recognized in Ruth that she had demonstrated the quality of virtue. However, more importantly, Boaz knew that Ruth’s virtue was such that the community saw and appreciated her virtue. Boaz could receive much ridicule for marrying a foreign woman, but because of Ruth’s virtue, he understood that the community would bless such a relationship because Ruth was not like every other foreigner but had a good heart.

While you may not be looking to be married, you should be looking to make an impact on the world you live in today. The purpose of your life is to glorify God. You live on this earth so that you can draw mankind’s attention to your Maker and Creator. If you do not demonstrate to the world that you are called by a higher calling, then you are just like everyone else around you and your testimony is weak.

You must live your life so that God and others see that the condition of your heart and mind is upon the things of God. Because you live a life that is pleasing to HIM, HE is able to bless you in ways that you never could imagine. Just as Ruth a complete stranger was able to see God’s provision in her life for food and later a husband, so too God can provide for your needs if you are willing to trust HIM and put HIM first in your life.

You can try to hide your Christianity by becoming a closet Christian. You can avoid talking about spiritual things while out in the world so as to ensure that you do not bring up any controversial subject. You can immerse yourself in the world’s music, language and dress so that the world never suspects that you are different. However, you are not to be of this world, you are to be a light.

When you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, you have a duty to obey HIM and do what HE has said. One instruction given to you is to add to your faith virtue. Your life should be so full of virtue that the world sees you and understands that you are different. The world should recognize that your mind and heart are right with God.

Proverbs 31:30a Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain:

The virtuous woman understands that it is not the outward appearances that are the most important thing but rather the inward manifestations of the heart. A virtuous woman is more concerned about the condition of her heart knowing that the inward beauty will affect her outward appearance. If she concentrates her attention to that which man sees yet has an ugliness of heart, that inward ugliness will ruin any outward beauty.

Outward beauty can be deceitful because what one sees on the outside does not reveal the inward character. If all one did was look at the outside of an individual to determine if they had character, then they could easily be deceived. Imagine looking at a businessman and seeing that he is financially well off. You could say to yourself, that man is so successful; he must be a man of character. However, what you do not know is that the man often visits prostitutes. That man’s outward appearances may be desirable, but the condition of his heart is such that his life is in vain and you are the one who is deceived.

You cannot judge a person’s virtue by their outward appearance. Outward appearances can be deceiving. This does not mean that a person of character has a bad outward appearance. It simply means do not try to judge a person simply upon their outward appearance. Instead, it should be your goal to understand the real man by looking at their heart. While you cannot open them up and look at their heart, you can examine the works of their hands because by their fruit you shall know them.

If all you are doing is looking at the outward appearance, you are looking too shallow and will be deceived as to who the real person is. When you meet a new person, do not look at the new suit and beautiful completion in order to determine if this individual is worthy of your attention. Instead, you should closely examine the outward manifestations of inward character so as to understand who the real individual is. The more you understand the inward character, the less likely you will be deceived by the outward appearances.

A person’s outward appearance does not tell you a thing. Jesus told you about Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man appeared to have life in control but it was Lazarus who is spending eternity with God while the rich man is destroyed in hell. You cannot assume that someone has inward character based upon their outward appearance. Instead you must diligently learn to examine their heart and mind if you desire not to be deceived by the outward appearance of man. Once you learn the character of the heart, the outward appearance will not deceive you. Boaz was willing to marry Ruth because he understood that Ruth had proven her inward character to him and the community.

Do not make your outward appearances your primary focus if you know that your heart and mind are not right with God. Instead, it is your duty to ensure that your heart and mind are right with God so that God can use you to spread HIS light around the world. It is important that you do not have a negative outward appearance which drives people away from you, however, this should not be your primary concern. The most important thing is your inward character, if that is right, then you can focus some attention on the outward appearance so as to be as affective for God as you can be. Virtue resides in the heart and mind; do not look at outward appearances to find inward character.

Proverbs 31:18a She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:

The eighth characteristic of virtue that Solomon was to look for in a woman he desired to marry was that the work of her hands be quality. You do not have to look far to find an individual who does the minimal amount of work in order to get by. However, when Solomon was looking for a spouse, he was to look for a woman who was diligent in her work, a woman who took pride in what she did and who did not cut corners.

Because you serve a living God, you understand that you are accountable to HIM for every thought, action and deed. When you add virtue to your life, you are now thinking upon the things of God which means that when you are working, you should have a desire to do the best that you can because you understand that God is being reflected to the world through you.

Solomon wrote many proverbs about the benefits of doing your job right. In Proverbs 22:29 he wrote, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” In Proverbs 11:1 he wrote, “A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.” In Proverbs 20:11 he wrote, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”

Those around you will see the quality of your work. If you slack in your work and do not put out the quality of work that others expect of you, your testimony will diminish. You are accountable to God for your actions and while you might be able to slack off for a period of time, your sins will find you out. When you have virtue in your life, you understand that one of your purposes is to demonstrate to the world that you are different so that when the world sees you, they see God.

The virtuous woman is one who takes the time to ensure that the works of her hands are good. Because the works of her hands are good, her reputation will be good in the community. When Ruth came and meet Boaz by night, Boaz commented to Ruth that “all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Ruth had developed a quality reputation and Boaz understood that her reputation would not be tarnished if he married this foreign woman because her reputation.

While you may not be a sluggard, if you are friends with a sluggard or your spouse is a sluggard, the world will look at you and will associate your character with those who are near you. This is one reason why Solomon was instructed to find a wife among those who understand the importance of having a good reputation by producing quality work. Solomon’s reputation would be incorporated with the reputation of his wife, if his wife had a good reputation, so would he, if she had a bad reputation, his would be tarnished.

You have an obligation to God to ensure that your life demonstrates that you produce quality work. In addition, you have an obligation to ensure that those you associate with also have demonstrated to God and the world that the quality of their work is pleasing to the Lord. The world knows you by the quality of your work. You must be diligent in your work so that God can use you. God desires to reveal HIMSELF to the world through you and the testimony of your life must reveal that you have added virtue to your life.

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Naomi had sojourned in the land of Moab with her husband and two sons during a famine in the land of Judah. While she was sojourning in the land of Moab, her son married Ruth. Upon the death of her husband and both of her sons, Naomi determined that she was going to return to her home. Naomi sent the wife of her other son back to her people, but Ruth refused to go. When Naomi tried a second time to send Ruth away, Ruth declared that she no longer considered herself a Moabite but that she was going to serve the God of Naomi and was going to leave her homeland to minister unto Naomi.

Ruth could have returned to her father’s house where she was with a people who knew her and loved her. However, Ruth determined to do the right thing and go into a strange land for the purpose of ministering unto Naomi. Because Ruth was both a foreigner and a woman, she was not exactly in a position to go out and obtain a job that could provide for her and Naomi’s needs. Nonetheless, Ruth did the right thing and she found ways to glean in the fields so that there was food on the table.

Naomi felt that God was not blessing her because she had lost her husband and both of her sons, yet God provided for her needs through her daughter-in-law who was willing to face rejection and scorn in order to help her. Why Ruth decided to reject returning to her family and chose to serve the God of Naomi was probably a great mystery to Naomi since Naomi felt cursed of God. Nonetheless, Ruth learned something about the God of Israel while married to Naomi’s son that caused her to reject her own gods in order to serve the God of Israel.

By faith, Ruth rejected the false god’s of her fathers in order to serve the true God of her first husband. Because Ruth made a decision to separate herself from her gods and her family, Ruth put her in a position where God could guide her and direct her. God first brought her to the field of Boaz to glean, then orchestrated Ruth’s marriage to Boaz, and finally gave Ruth a son. God rewarded Ruth’s faith by providing for her.

By faith you must reject the gods of this world in order to serve the one true God. While you may come from a family that serves God, their faith will never save you. You must make the conscience decision to reject the gods of this world in order to put your full faith in the life saving blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gods in America are not made out of stone. The main gods in America today are money, entertainment, fame, sports, and sex. These false gods must be rejected because you are to have no other gods but the one true God. Thus it is pertinent that you follow the example of Ruth to totally reject the gods of the world in order to serve the Living God and to do what is right in HIS eyes.

A complete rejection of the gods of this world is necessary if you are going to do the will of God. You are to be in the world but not of the world. By faith, you must choose to serve God and to do what HE desires. By faith you can reject those things that are comfortable to you in order to that which is right in the eyes of God. By faith you must be like Ruth and reject the known in order to serve God to see where HE will lead you.