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THE BLESSING OF THE HOME (10)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Ruth 4:11-22

Proverbs 20:5-12

 

“Most men will proclaim
every one his own goodness:

but a faithful man who can find?”

 

THE BLESSING OF THE HOME (10)
 
Many a time we profess religion but, alas, we fail to show true religion. We proclaim our faith, but fail to show it. James, in his epistle, presented the practicality of religion and pointed out that one who hears but does not do is deceiving himself. The harmony of verbal profession and actual action is very necessary, yet very rare. We often struggle to be in deed as we speak in word, yet that is the essence of Christianity, as the apostle puts it: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Boaz, as a man walking in his integrity, was once again blessed and “his children are blessed after him.”
 
“…his name may be famous in Israel” (Ruth 4:14). The noble acts of Boaz set him up as an example of piety, goodwill, charity and selflessness. But it did not end there, for Ruth had given Naomi a son, one who would inherit the name and the property of Elimelech (Naomi’s husband). It is the birth of this child that brought the women to Naomi. How would this child turn out? What would he accomplish in his life? Many a child hold the aspirations and dreams of their parents from a young age, unbeknownst to them. This son of Boaz was raised on behalf of Mahlon, and as such, legally he would be grandson to Naomi even though Naomi was not directly part of Boaz’s family. Once the child became of age, he would bear the responsibility and name of Elimelech. The name that he would establish was a name that many had thought was about to be cut off from Israel. But the child did not know all these.
 
The women’s prayer was that the child would make a name for himself, and this is the prayer of all parents for their children. In such a prayer, few would think of success and a name as things that are achieved by godliness, integrity, and other spiritual virtues. The child Obed would become the family head, and his raising would need to prepare him for that. As we have dreams and aspirations for our children, we must ensure that they are godly and spiritual ones.
 
THOUGHT: (Read Proverbs 22:6.)

PRAYER: Give us wisdom to prepare our children spiritually for life.

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