RPG Adults
THE BLESSING OF THE HOME (6)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Ruth 4:11-22
Ecclesiastes 5:1-6
“When thou vowest a vow unto God,
defer not to pay it…”
THE BLESSING OF THE HOME (6)
The story of the relationship of Boaz and Ruth is not one of empty promises, sweet lies, words spoken hastily, or out of emotions without intentions or with wrong intentions. In this age, courtship and speech between “lovers” are presented as lies that are sweet to the ears, and words that are to be forgotten and not to be fulfilled. But this was not the case of Boaz with Ruth.
“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife…” (Ruth 4:13). The purposes and the words of Boaz were not driven by emotions or said out of convenience. When he offered to take up the matter with the elders on her behalf, he did take it up when morning came. When he said he would do the part of the kinsman if the nearer kinsman would not do it, he kept his word and took Ruth to be his wife. No doubt, if the nearer kinsman had stepped up to the responsibility, then Boaz, as he had said to Ruth, would have let the nearer kinsman redeem her and Naomi’s property. Many marriages become difficult and homes become unhappy because the pictures painted during courtship through the words and promises given were rash and empty. We court and “convince” one another with words we do not intend to remember, and promises we do not intend to keep. Yet, the one who is convinced by them remembers them.
Vows made must be fulfilled, and the disposition when fulfilling them must be joyful, willing and cheerful. Therefore, whether it is during the process of courting, or during the wedding ceremony, our words must be sober, deliberate, and conscious. We must say them with the intent and purpose to fulfil them, not just say what we know is expected of us, even though we do not mean them. The “for better, for worse” and “in sickness and in health,” or “for richer, for poorer” and “till death us do part” are not sweet nothings that sound good and poetic to the ears, or that are for a good public show. They are words of resolve, intent and purpose that are said not just for the hearing or the moment, but said for a witness and are words to which we desire to be held accountable to.
THOUGHT: Marriage vows are not empty promises.
PRAYER: (Read Psalm 19:12-14.)