4 SIGNS YOU MIGHT HAVE A KEEPER.
1. SEEKING CHARACTER
2. EXPLORING CONNECTION
3. SHOWING CONSIDERATION
4. RECEIVING CONFIRMATION
RUTH 2:10 NIV
At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”
RUTH 2:11 NIV
Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.
YOU DON’T BUILD A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ON A FOUNDATION OF SIN.
RUTH 2:14
At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”
When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.
RUTH 3:1-2 NIV
One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home[a] for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.
(PHOTO OF THRESHING FLOOR)
VS. 3
Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
VS. 4-6 NIV
When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
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.
RUTH 3:7-8 NIV
When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!
VS. 9
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”
GUARDIAN-REDEEMER: A RELATIVE WHO HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIVILEGE TO PROVIDE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE TIME OF NEED
SONG OF SONGS 8:4 NLT
Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,
not to awaken love until the time is right.[a]
RUTH 3:10-11 NIV
“The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.
And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.
RUTH 3:12-13 NIV
Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I.
13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”
VS. 18
18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”
IF HE DOES WHAT IT TAKES TO GET YOU….HE WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP YOU
5 BIG LESSONS WE ARE LEARNING
1. IT'S OFTEN WISE TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO INCREASE THE ODDS OF MEETING THE RIGHT PERSON.
2. DON’T OVERLOOK THOSE WHO ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
3. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER WHAT YOU WANT
4. EVEN IF YOU DON’T GET IT RIGHT, GOD CAN STILL MAKE IT RIGHT.
5. IF YOU WANT A MARRIAGE THAT HONORS GOD IN THE FUTURE, LIVE A LIFE THAT HONORS GOD TODAY.
