“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 3:11).
TEXT — Ruth 3:8-11
Message
Challenges and adverse conditions are common experiences of life. They could be in the form of loss of a dear one, job, property, privilege or source of support. None of these is a justification for loss of Christian virtues. Righteousness exalts a nation and virtuousness is the best heritage.
The story in our passage today centres around two main personalities: Ruth, the Moabitess, and Boaz from Ephrathah in Bethlehem-Judah. Ruth had earlier returned with her mother-in-law to the land of Judah, having lost her husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law. She had no child from her previous marriage with Mahlon and needed to be married to a near kin to raise a name for the dead as was the custom then. Naomi, her mother-in-law, had prodded her to take steps to call the attention of Boaz to do the needful. Worthy of the greatest attention was Boaz’s testimony of Ruth’s virtues. Though a stranger in the land, her virtues were like sweet smelling savour, perceived by people in the city.
Ruth’s virtuousness was in the public and private domains. Boaz testified to it and her mother-in-law was confident of it. Being virtuous and righteous does not lead to loss and deprivation as some people often think. Ruth’s exemplary life left a lasting impression and had a strong impact on Boaz who promised and actualised the needful once the protocol was eventually settled.
There are timeless lessons here. Situations and circumstances will always affect people. A person’s reaction will ultimately determine what the end will be. Furthermore, we must not let adversity to determine our behaviour. If we maintain our virtues, we will surely have a worthy testimony.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
