August 3, 2008

What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Ruth 3:10-18

Opening Words: It has become my custom to preach on an Old Testament character during the summer months. Over the past few years we have examined the lives of Nehemiah, Esther, Elijah and Joseph. This summer we are looking at the life of Ruth. By now the story should sound familiar.

By now you know the story. Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth are facing the world alone. They are widowed and living in Bethlehem. It is Naomi’s hometown but Ruth is a stranger. She is from Moab and came to Bethlehem to stay near her beloved mother-in-law. Their lives are not easy. They are living in poverty, gleaning the fields of the rich. However, it is in the fields of the rich that God begins to move. There are many fields in that area in which to glean but Ruth ends up in Boaz’s field. WOW! What a Coincidence! He is a rich relative of her deceased husband. He is kind to Ruth, offering both food and protection. Ruth and Naomi exist on that kindness for months but things are about to change. The harvest had been completed. There would be no more gleaning. It was time, however, for Naomi to demonstrate her understanding of faith and time for Ruth to demonstrate her great trust in Naomi. Do you remember? Last week we left Ruth and Boaz on the threshing room floor. This week we discovered Naomi’s plan worked better than they could have possibly imagine. This weekend we are in the third chapter of Ruth, verses ten through eighteen. Let me call this message What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Ruth 3:10-18 ¹⁰ "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. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. ¹² Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. ¹³ Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning."

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor."

¹⁵ He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town.

¹⁶ When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?"
Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her ¹⁷ and added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.' "

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."

Never underestimate the power of love. Dwight L. Moody told the story of a small boy who attended a Sunday school in Chicago. When his parents moved to another part of the city everyone said, “Good-bye” to him. They didn’t think they would ever see him again. However, the next week he returned. He continued to be part of that Sunday school class, although it meant a long, tiresome walk each way. A friend asked him why he went so far, and told him that there were plenty of good churches in his new neighborhood. "They may be good for others, but not for me," was his reply. "Why not?" she asked. "Because those others churches don’t love me."

Did you know that people travel farther to church today than any other time in American history? How far do you travel to come to Western Reserve? Maybe this is a better question. How many churches did you pass this morning on your way to Western Reserve? It is a legitimate question especially in our time of expensive gas. How many people here passed up all those other churches because you wanted to hear this weekend’s message? How many people here passed up all those other churches because you wanted to hear this morning’s prelude? How many people here passed up all those other churches because you wanted to hear the announcements? How many people here passed up all those other churches because we have better coffee and fresher donuts? The answer to all those questions is zero. You may like some of those things but they are not the reason you are here. You are here for one reason. You are here because it is in this setting you feel loved.

For years church growth experts have been trying to write off small membership churches. They have old buildings, old members and poor music. In smaller membership churches the preacher is always moving. They are out of step with society. If the church was a business they would be closed or merged years ago. Church growth experts tell us they should be dead but small membership churches live on. Why? Because with all of their shortcomings, they excel in one thing. LOVE! They love one another and the people keep coming back. Never underestimate the power of love!

What is love?

It is silence--when your words would hurt.

It is patience--when your neighbor's curt.

It is deafness--when a scandal flows.

It is thoughtfulness--for other's woes.

It is promptness--when stern duty calls.

It is courage--when misfortune falls.

At the very heart of this weekend’s text is the issue of love. When we last left Ruth she was lying on the threshing room floor. Do you remember? As my grandfather would have said, “She was all gussied up.” She had taken a bath and put on her best perfume. She was wearing her best garment, the toga that made her look thin. She is offering herself to Boaz, who is partied out. (Don’t be shocked. This is Bible!) However, don’t think of it in sexual terms. Think of it in legal term. She is trying to discover if he will live up to the Old Testament law of “kindred-redeemer.” Do you remember this Old Testament law? We talked about it last week. There is no welfare state in Ruth and Boaz’s time. When a male died the Bible said a living family member should buy the deceased property and marry the widow. It was a way of keeping the property in the family and caring for the widows, who had nothing. Boaz is a man of incredible integrity. He accepts this new responsibility. But he doesn’t just accept this responsibility. He offers his love. Their marriage is not going to be grounded in cold law. It is going to be grounded in love. He is breathing life into their relationship. Boaz understood the power of love.

My goal in the next two weeks is really quite simple. I want you to rediscover the power of love. In the next two weeks we are going to be looking at six divine truths about love. Don’t worry we are not going to examine all six today. We are going to look at three this weekend and three next weekend. I called this weekend’s message What”s Love Got to Do with It. I called next weekend’s message What's Love Got to Do with It (Part 2). It is a like a sermon series inside a sermon series. Each one of these points is illustrated in Ruth’s story. Each one of these points is illustrated in the life of Jesus. So if you big lovable people are ready to begin looking at love say, “Amen!”

Love shows itself in accepting others.

Divine truth number one is love shows itself in accepting others. During the World War II, Hitler commanded all religious groups to unite so that he could control them. Among the Lutheran assemblies, half complied and half refused. Those who went along with the order had a much easier time. Those who did not faced harsh persecution. When the war was over, feelings of bitterness ran deep between the groups. Finally, they decided that the situation had to be healed. Leaders from each group met at a quiet retreat. For several days, each person spent time in prayer, examining his own heart in the light of Christ's commands. Then they came together. Francis Schaeffer asked a friend who was there, "What did you do?" "We were just one," he replied. “In the spirit of Christ we confessed our hostility and bitterness to God and yielded to His control. It was the Holy Spirit who created a spirit of unity among them. Love filled our hearts and dissolved our hatred.” Divine truth number one is love shows itself in accepting others.

It is same in Ruth’s story. Ruth was a Moabite. What does that mean? That means she was a Gentile. She was an outsider. She was a stranger in a strange land. It is safe to say she was ostracized by the people of Bethlehem. Ruth and Boaz had no common background. Boaz was Jewish; one of God’s chosen people. He didn’t have to do it but he accepted her. Why? Because love shows itself in accepting others.

It is the same in Jesus’ story. Jesus was born in the line of David. The Master wasn’t just a carpenter. He was a Jew and he was told from the very beginning that his people, the Jews, were God’s chosen people. He heard it from the beginning but he didn’t believe it. He didn’t die just for the Jews. He died for both the Jews and the Gentiles. He died for all people and accepts each and everyone. Through the eyes of God all people are the same. Love shows itself in accepting others. And all of God’s lovable people said, “Amen!” The people who love you accept you just the way you are. God accepts you just the way you are.

Love seeks true beauty.

Divine truth number two is love seeks beauty. I love the story of the couple who were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They sat there reflecting back on their fifty years together. The wife said “things have really changed. You used to sit so close to me.” Well, I can remedy that” said the man, moving next to her on the couch. “And you used to hold her tight.” “How’s that” he asked as he gave her a hug. “Do you remember you used to nuzzle my neck?” So he nuzzled her neck! She said, “Do you remember how you used to nibble on my ear lobes?” she asked. At that he jumped up and left the room. “Where are you going” she asked. “I’ll be right back, he called, I’ve got to get my teeth! Sam Levenson said, “Love at first sight is easy to understand. It's when two people have been looking at each other for years that love becomes truly miraculous.” Time robs us our youth but it can’t touch our beauty. Divine truth number two is love seeks beauty.

It is the same in Ruth’s story. Look at the text with me. She is lying there in the threshing room floor. She is all gussied up. She has taken a bath. She has put on perfume. She is wearing her finest garment, the one that makes her look thin. She looks good but Boaz doesn’t mention anything about her physical appearance. He mentions her internal beauty. Verse eleven says, “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” Boaz is older than Ruth. He has learned that beauty is not just how you look, it is who you are. Love seeks true beauty.

It is the same in Jesus’ story. Jesus does not care about your massive biceps or your shapely legs. Jesus cares about your real beauty. He cares about who you really are. Are you a person of honesty? Are you a person of integrity? Are you a person of compassion or are you a person who has majored in yourself? Love seeks true beauty. And all of God’s lovable people said, “Amen!” The people who love you, love you for who you are. God loves for who you are, not what you are.

Love shows itself in encouraging others.

Divine truth number three is love shows itself in encouraging others. The Duke of Wellington, the British military leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, was not an easy man to serve under. He was brilliant, demanding, and not one to shower his subordinates with compliments. Yet even Wellington realized that his methods left something to be desired. In his old age a young lady asked him what, if anything, he would do differently if he had his life to live over again. Wellington thought for a moment, then replied. "I'd give more praise," he said. Does anyone here need a little encouragement? Love shows itself in encouraging others.

It is the same in Ruth’s story. Ruth and Naomi were desperate. The harvest season was over. Ruth throws herself at Boaz. She is desperate. Naomi believes this is God’s will but there is a risk involved. What is wonderful about this story is Boaz’s reaction. He not only accepts Ruth. He encourages Ruth with both his words and his actions. Ruth returned to Naomi with more than they could have ever imagined. Love shows itself in encouraging others.

It is the same in Jesus’ story. When I went to seminary I was always taught to make the Good News good news. Most people who come to church are good people. Most people who come to church want to know God’s will for their life. Most people who come to church are tired because life is hard. Part of my calling is to encourage you to keep going and remind you of the prize that is waiting for us in the end, heaven. Love shows itself in encouraging others. And all of God’s lovable people said, “Amen!”

Never underestimate the power of love. If your understanding of love is a box of candies, a handful of flowers, a trip to the bed and breakfast and boxer shorts with heats on them, then you couldn’t be more wrong. Love is much more complex. Love is tough. Love is the most powerful thing in the world. Love makes us do things we don’t want to do. How many Middle School band concerts and dance recitals have you attended because of love? How many times have you been forgiven, not because you deserve, but because you are loved?

C. Morley once said, “If we discovered that we had five minutes left to say all we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied by people calling other people to stammer that they love them. Why wait until the last five minutes?” You can tell the people in your life I love you with your words but you can show them with your life. And all of God’s lovable people said, “Amen!”