Title: Who is Happy? (Ruth 04:13-17)
Contents
Who is happy? (Ruth 4:13-17)
Ruth's story, which started with bad luck and sadness, made us cry, regret, and regret. After crossing the river of hardship and the land of tension, it ends with laughter that does not stop now, abundant blessings and a scene of gratitude. are tied to Of all readers of the book of Ruth, few would think that this happiness and blessing was undeserved for Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi. Everyone would think that this blessing was the reward that Boaz and Ruth deserved. These people are qualified and qualified enough to enjoy such blessings. Based on the structure and content of this book of Ruth, we may be able to extract a reversal theme, where sorrow turns into joy and sighs into song. It may be argued that these blessings are promised and guaranteed to those who seek God and do His will. But that's not what I'm talking about today.
Just because a person is qualified does not mean that everyone will be happy. In stories with the theme of good luck and happy endings, good and sincere people eventually find happiness. In order to teach people a lesson either through a story or through an actual event, the content must fit into the theme of the scourge. So, in most of the old stories, good people are blessed and bad people are punished. However, in reality, there are many more real stories in the field of our lives where sincere and kind people do not enjoy happiness. Nevertheless, in order to establish morality and order in society, few examples of good people being blessed are discovered, emphasized, and such stories are created. It can be said that the contents of this book of Ruth fall into that category.
The fact that the theme of 'Gwonseojinak' is used as a lesson can prove that the phenomena that are taking place in the real world are not so. The more immature a society is, the more the real world is dominated by a phenomenon that is far from the theme of good luck. Quite frankly, just looking around us, how many people live a painful life because they are entangled in everything they do, even though they have the qualifications and conditions to receive blessings? On the other hand, for some people, Shimbo is no less than Nolbu, who buys stocks and goes up, sells them and then goes down, and the kids get into good colleges. Here we can find a clear principle. Just because you live a good life does not mean that things will go well and you will receive blessings. This is the clear reality. But there is an even more important principle. Still, we must live a good life. So how difficult is it to live a good and conscientious life?
Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi we see today, these people really feared God and lived faithfully before Him. And God has blessed them without limit. But what I can tell you from my experience is that you cannot expect to receive the blessings they received just because you live like Boaz or Ruth. Rather, you should be prepared to be deceived and bullied. Nevertheless, what I can tell you clearly is that you must still live your faith with integrity and honesty. Although we may not be able to enjoy the blessings that Boaz and Ruth received, we must live like Boaz and Ruth.
Why? If you live like Boaz, you will receive the blessings that Boaz received, and if you live like Ruth, you will receive the blessings of Ruth. Does it make sense to live like Boaz and like Ruth without guaranteeing such blessings? I don't want to say nonsense. I am telling you this because it makes sense. According to the values and philosophies of this world, it may sound absurd, but according to the values of God, the values of the kingdom of God and God's methods, which are in sharp conflict with the values of the world, this is very natural and makes sense. And we are people who live according to the values and methods of God, not the values and methods of the world.
The writer of Hebrews says: 'Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him' (Hebrews 11:6). Aren't we the ones who come to God? We are people who live before God. He said that we must believe that God exists. The writer of Hebrews is not discussing the existence of God here. We need to know what kind of God God is. We need to know that we are not a God who deceives ourselves and our consciences, does injustice, and leaves us to live or not, and does not interfere or can't. Even at this moment, we must believe that God is the one who sees our thoughts and actions with the eyes of a flame.
Whether we receive blessings and rewards, or whether we do not, or become lowly in the world, should not have any influence on how we live our lives faithfully and cleanly before God. If we expect a reward from God that corresponds to what we have been good at, we are saying this to God. 'God, please bless me that much because I lived a good life. If God doesn't give it to me, why do I have to live a good life? If God does not bless me, I will not live a good life.' Are you saying that you want to receive blessings by threatening God with a hostage to live a good life? All we can say before the Almighty and Supreme Sovereign God is 'even if not so'. We must live like Boaz, even if God does not give us the reward that Boaz has given us. Even if he does not grant us the blessings given to Ruth, we must live like Ruth.
In addition, he said that we must believe that God is the rewarder of us who come before God. This is the reason why we must keep our faith and conscience even if we do not receive blessings and rewards. God may not reward our lives right away. On the contrary, you may suffer a great loss because of God. But the God we believe in is the rewarder. Of course, it's not just awards. He is the Judge who decides the eternal life and destruction of our lives. How can we, who live in the presence of such a God, dare to deceive God by pursuing our immediate interests and happiness? Although we may not have a reward worthy of our lives right now, God is definitely a rewarder. When we believe in such a God, our lives will not be bound by the blessings of this world. The writer of Hebrews is now saying that it is impossible to please God without this kind of faith.
Let's take a look at Boaz, who is now struggling with happiness and doesn't know what to do. Boaz took Ruth as his wife. Do you remember the day Boaz first met Ruth? Do you remember what Boaz said to Ruth first? 'May the LORD, the God of Israel, give you a full reward for coming to seek protection under his wings.' At that time, Ruth was like a bird that had lost its nest, a poor woman with nowhere to lean on or depend on. The reason that I came to Bethlehem with my mother-in-law despite such hardships was because of the desire to become Jehovah's people, so Boaz saw it and said, 'I have come to seek protection under the wings of the Lord, the God of Israel.' Truly, Ruth needed huge wings to cover and protect her. Seeing Ruth's condition, Boaz earnestly prayed that God would spread his great wings and embrace her.
Boaz said he wanted God to embrace Ruth with her wings. But in the end, Boaz himself embraced Ruth with his wings. So what did Boaz do? It is God's agent, God's agent. Our existence in this world as children of God is not just about living as believers in God. What we have to do is to carry out God's commands as God's representatives and to do the work God has been entrusted with. That is why Christians are sometimes referred to as ambassadors of God or ambassadors for Christ. Are the things done in our lives the things God is supposed to do? Or is it something God won't do? Even though we live on this earth, we must not forget that we are people who represent heaven and represent God. What should God do around us? It is our duty and mission as Christians to find them and do them.
Brothers and sisters, just as Boaz was used as God's wings, may your life be used as God's wings and God's hands. I hope that you will become the hands of God who carry out the work that God should do for you, and the feet of God who go where God should go, so that you can become the saints who refresh and satisfy God's heart.