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PROVIDENCE, CHOICES, AND FAMILY LIFE (1)
LORD’S DAY, AUGUST 4
Ruth 3:1-5

Genesis 2:18-24

 

“Marriage is honourable in all…”

 

PROVIDENCE, CHOICES, AND FAMILY LIFE (1)
 
Families in general face unprecedented strain and stress. The rates of divorce and separation are on the rise, and the number of those disillusioned by marriage is increasing. Even among Christians, there is a great challenge around the issue of marriage. Ruth chapter 3 takes place at the end of the harvest period, and gives us a good pattern for choices regarding family life. The pattern is one that involves the leading of providence coupled with the guidance of godly wisdom from parents.
 
“…My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?” (Ruth 3:1). The previous chapter highlights the workings of the hand of providence. This chapter now turns to the guidance, godly wisdom and action required to establish one’s life especially in marriage matters. Although marriage is the union between one man and one woman according to God’s holy ordinance, and involves forsaking father and mother in order to cleave to one another, the process by which the two enter into this union is not to be secretive and limited to the two of them. In the case of Ruth, Naomi took the initiative on behalf of Ruth.
 
The initiative that Naomi took was to “seek rest” on behalf of Ruth. This gives us her perspective for family life. This was her desire even as she bade her two daughters-in-law leave and return to their homes. Ruth 1:9: “The LORD grant ye that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.” The initiative Naomi was taking was that which she probably believed their mothers would have taken on their behalf as she had bidden them, “Go, return each to her mother’s house” (Ruth 1:8). As their mother-in-law, she had considered it her duty to provide husbands for them, hence she had asked them, “why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?” (Ruth 1:11). The husband’s home is God’s provision for the protection, safety, welfare and honour for the wife, and it is there that the wife finds a place to practise piety and give no occasion to the adversary (Titus 2:4-5; 1 Tim 5:14).
 
THOUGHT: Marriage is an honourable and godly estate.

PRAYER: Father, grant us godly homes that offer refuge for the family.

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