IN THE LAST FIVE DECADES, MARRIAGE RATES IN THE U.S HAVE DROPPED BY 60%

63% OF MEN UNDER THE AGE OF 30 ARE CHOOSING TO BE SINGLE

77% OF MILLENNIALS PREFER TO LIVE WITH THEIR PARTNER BEFORE MARRIAGE.

50% OF MARRIAGES END IN DIVORCE

IF YOU DO WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO – YOU’LL GET WHAT MOST PEOPLE GET

RUTH CHAPTER TWO – FIND THE LOVE YOU WANT

RUTH 1:16 NIV

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

WHEN YOU TURN AWAY FROM MOAB, YOU’LL FIND GOD’S BLESSINGS IN BETHLEHEM

RUTH 2:1 NIV

Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.

RUTH 2:2-3 NIV

And Ruth the Moabite 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, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters.

VS. 3

3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.

PROVIDENCE OF GOD – WHEN GOD USES NATURAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO BRING ABOUT HIS SUPERNATURAL PLANS.

RUTH 2:4

While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said.

“The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied.

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FIRST WHAT THEY VALUE THE MOST

DON’T LET YOUR PAST TALK YOU OUT OF THE FUTURE GOD HAS FOR YOU

RUTH 2:5-7

Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?”

6 And the foreman replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. 7 She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.”

4 THINGS WE SEE

SHE’S FAITHFUL TO GOD.

SHE’S LOYAL TO HER FAMILY.

SHE’S A HARD WORKER.

SHE HONORS GOD MORALLY.

RUTH 2:8-9

Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. 9 See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly.

And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.”

RUTH 2:12

May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

QUALITIES IN BOAZ

HE HONORS HER.

HE PROTECTS HER.

HE PROVIDES FOR HER.

HE PRAYS FOR HER.

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.

WE ARE A LOT LIKE RUTH

1. SHE WAS A MOABITE AND SHE SINNED AGAINST GOD

2. SHE CAME EMPTY HANDED

3. BOAZ BLESSED RUTH WITH MORE THAN SHE EVER EXPECTED

4. BOAZ INVITED RUTH TO HIS TABLE

VS. 3

As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.