Pursued By Grace Series Sermon #7
Ruth 2:21-23
ABIDING IN THE FIELD OF GRACE
Intro: Ruth has been gleaning in the field of Boaz, while there she
got more grain than she bargained for. She also caught the eye of
the wealthy field owner, a man by the name of Boaz. He works
things out for her so that she leaves his field with more enough grain
to feed her and her mother in law for a week or more! She also
leaves that field with instructions from Boaz. You see, this man is
falling in love with Ruth and he is determined to get to know her
better. Before she leaves, she is invited by Boaz to abide in his field
until the harvest has ended. He wants to take care of Ruth and see
that she has all she needs and more! He wants to be blessing to her
life.
I would remind you that Boaz is a picture of the Lord Jesus
Christ. In these verses, we see a portrait of how the Lord works with
His people and how His people should respond to Him. You see,
like Boaz, the Lord Jesus possesses a big field of grace and He
wants us to abide in it. If we will abide in the field of grace, He will
see to it that we get everything we need and much more. Allow me
to point out the great blessings that are contained in these verses.
I want to preach for a few minutes on the subject Abiding In The
Field Of Grace.
I. V. 21 RUTH IS INVITED TO ABIDE
A. It Was A Personal Invitation - "He said unto me" - Boaz is
interested in Ruth as an individual. He wants to know her
better. He is concerned about her. (Note: Jesus Christ is a
personal Savior! He is interested in a personal relationship
with each of us, Rom. 10:13. He is interested in us
personally. He wants out walk with Him to be an intimate
one, John 15:5-6. Ill. Rev. 3:20.)
B. It Was A Precise Invitation - Boaz told her exactly what she
was to do, "Abide in my field." He left no question as to
what he expected from Ruth. (Note: So it is with Jesus. He
wants us to be in an intimate, abiding relationship with Him, John 15:4; 15:15-16.) (Note: Jesus doesn't want His people
gleaning in His field one day and another field another day.
He wants us to live a live that is consistent. One that feeds
off of our relationship with Him. One that requires Him to
exist. He wants there to be a hunger in the heart for Him, Psa. 42:1-2.)
C. It Was A Promising Invitation - "until they have ended all
my harvest." Boaz wanted Ruth to know that she was
invited to glean in his fields until everything had been
gathered. This promised her that she would enjoy plenty
until the harvest was over. (Note: The relationship Jesus
wants to have with His children is not a short term situation!
He wants us to abide in His field until all His harvest has
ended. That is why He has promised us that He will never
leave us, Heb. 13:5. That is why He has promised us that
He will never cast us away, John 6:37.) (Note: Those who
enter into this kind of relationship with the Lord Jesus find
themselves in a fertile field of grace, where is presence and
His blessings are rich and real! His blessings do not have to
be hit or miss, but they can be as constant as the North
Star!)
II. V. 22 RUTH IS INSTRUCTED TO ABIDE
A. The Character Of The Field - Ruth is told that "it is good".
This is a good field! It was a proven field, v. 17. It was a productive field, Chp. 2; It was a promising field, v. 21.
This speaks to the quality of the field! (Note: The field of
grace that Jesus expects us to abide in is a field of the best
character. Staying with Him will produce the fruit of His
image in your life, Rom. 8:29. Gleaning in any other field
leads to destruction and death, Pro. 16:25. The character of
the Lord's field is that it is a good field. It is the best field.
For those who have gleaned there and tasted the fruit
thereof would never think of gleaning anywhere else. When
you can have all that Jesus offers, why would you settle for
anything else?)
B. The Completeness Of The Field - Ruth found more than
just food when she was in the field of Boaz. She found
peace, safety, security, hope, refreshment, relationships,
hope, promise, goodness, kindness, and blessing, 2:9-17.)
This speaks to the quantity of the field. (Note: When you
glean in the field of the Lord Jesus and determine that you
will abide there through the times of bounty as well as the
lean times, you will find that His field contains all you need to
sustain you through all times.) (Note: Is Jesus all you need?
That's not nearly enough! Is Jesus all you want? That's not
far enough either! He wants us to come to the place where
Jesus is all we have, Heb. 13:5b! Paul said it best, Phil.1:21. Where are you in that process?) When we come
to the place where Jesus is all we have, we will find that we
have all we want and all we need. He offers completeness
for all those who glean in His field, Phil. 4:11-13.
C. The Company Of The Field - When Ruth was gleaning in
the field of Boaz, she had precious relationships with the
men in the field, 2:4-7; 9; with the maidens in the field, 2:8,
22; and with the master of the field himself, Boaz, 2:7-18.
(Note: When we learn to abide in the Lord's field, we are
also privileged to enter into some glorious relationships.
First, there is the relationship with the people of God! Our
fellowship together is precious! We are a body, 1 Cor.
12:12-27. We are part of a fellowship, 1 John 1:3. Thank
God for His people! They are precious! Secondly, we have
a relationship with the Master of the field, the Lord Jesus
Christ. It is a close relationship, 1 John 1:3, John 15:5. It
is a permanent relationship, John 6:37; John 14:16. The
relationships of His field are precious beyond words!)
III. V. 23 RUTH IS INCLINED TO ABIDE
A. Her's Was A Continual Work - Ruth entered that field every
day and gleaned faithfully until the harvest ended. (Note:
That is what Jesus expects all of His people to do! He wants
us to glean in His field faithfully every single day! He would
have His people dedicated, consecrated, and consistently
gleaning in His field, carrying out His will until He comes. Ill. Eph. 2:8-10)
B. Her's Was A Completed Work - She was steadfast and
dedicated until the work was finished. (Note: The Lord
would have His people continue in His harvest work until He
ends all the harvest. He is looking for those who will begin
well, glean well and finish well. I want to be able to say what
Paul said when he reached the end of the way, 2 Tim. 4:6-8.)
C. Her's Was A Consecrated Work - This verse tells us that
she "dwelt with her mother in law." She was a young,
beautiful, widow. She caught the eye of Boaz, and she
probably caught the eye of other men in Bethlehem. Still she
walked in integrity and maintained her purity through those
difficult, lonely days. This speaks volumes about Ruth's
character! She willingly submitted herself to the field,
the future, her family and her new faith. In doing so, she
sets the example for you and me. (Note: As we glean, we
are to be faithful to do His will as we pass through this world.
Are you doing that? We are also to walk in integrity. We are
to keep our lives clean and pleasing in the sight of the Lord
for the glory of God. He would have His people be holy, 1
Pet. 1:16. There are many who need to come before Him
and make a fresh commitment to glean in His will, in the field
of grace until the harvest is ended!)
Conc: Ruth committed herself to staying in the field of Boaz. She
did not wander from field to field, but she settled down and worked
in the fields of grace. I wish God's people could catch a vision of
that truth today! Far too many of God's people are wandering here
and there, gleaning in this field and then another. Would to God that
we would just determine in our hearts that we are done playing
with this thing and settle down to serve Him and glean in His
field until He comes for us.
If you are not saved, I invite you to enter the field of grace
by faith. He will save you today if you will come. If you are
saved and have strayed from His field, I invite you to return,
there is plenty for you to glean here. If you are doing your best
to be consistent and faithful, I would encourage you to carry
on. I've read the book and it won't be long until the harvest
has ended and we are called to the big house.
