A Chance At Love - Boaz & Ruth

Gatsby and Daisy. Jane and Edward Rochester. Catherine and Heathcliff. Before today’s Edward and Bella became internationally famous, there were Tristan and Iseult, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth of Pride and Prejudice, there was another couple. Possibly “the couple” of ALL couples! Boaz and Ruth. Their love story, dating from approximately 1000 BC, is still strongly applicable in the twenty-first century. With more than 2.2 million weddings in the United States each year, I’d surmise that people are looking to find their “one true” love. (By the way, it averages about 5,918 weddings per day in America!)

An article I read online stated, "Boaz, cinematically speaking, was the leading man in the Hebrew book of Ruth. Chapter 2 accounts this short but divine love story. The book of Ruth is the story of a young widow, whose heart had been broken by her husband’s death, yet healed by faith in the God of Israel."

"Having touched God’s heart, she also touched the heart of one of God’s champion followers—Boaz. The juncture of their lives becomes not only the framework of an earthly love story but also the foreshadowing of the greatest love story, God’s love for the world through Jesus." {For God SO loved the world, that He gave His only begotten…John 3:16}

I won’t spend a lot of time in review of Ruth and Boaz in this specific blog posting, but I wanted to bring to the reader’s fore mind that our young people – our teens and pre-teens need good, Godly examples in their lives! Right now the “Boaz Principle” or “Recognizing My Boaz” is being taught by leaders throughout the country.  You can lots of good information online about it. I encourage you to attend a seminar or prayer study about this teaching if you have an opportunity. You’ll leave encouraged and stronger.  But what about AFTER the symposium? After the girls go home? The months following the Bible study?

I’ve been thinking about this for several months – possibly because I’ve had recent opportunity to speak in front of several young ladies this summer (Not bragging on self – but rather glorifying God!)

Let’s teach our girls (of all ages) the difference between:

*A young man who lusts after her, verses a man who wants to protect her purity.

* A young man who believes he’s a gift to women, verses a man who believes SHE is a gift to him from God. (Read that comment on Pinterest)

* A young man who views her as a piece of property, verses a man who views her properly

* A young man who sees what he can get, verses a man who expects to receive nothing

*A young man who acts like a Christian in front of her, verses a man who LIVES like a Christian in and out of her presence. (My pastor has said this many times).

* A young man who “acts right” in front of mom and dad, verses a man who acts right when they are alone together, away from mom and dad.

*A young man who brings up past mistakes, verses a man who offers hope, trust, and acceptance in building a future

*A young man who puts his wants first, verses a man who puts himself last.

A famous minister said, "What made Boaz perfect for Ruth had very little to do with his relationship to Naomi, his influence, or his wealth. It was the fact that he was the son of Rahab (Mat 1:5), a Harlot woman who by grace (undeserved favor) was wedded to one of the Israelite princes. Thus, Boaz spent his childhood in groundwork, in preparation, observing the love and respect his royal father showed to his mother."

Thanks to the wonderful God we serve who knows EACH OF US from the beginning from the end, Ruth’s second chance love was born to the right set of parents, with the right dispositions and experiences to teach their son how to love Ruth with divine precision before she was even born.  What God did for Ruth, He is able to do for you! (Already blessed with your Boaz?! Then praise God for His excellent goodness!)

And by all means…Let’s teach our own sons to be the men God will be pleased with!

Look UP my friend!