Where did you harvest and where did you work? – Preaching
Preaching outline on Ruth 2:19 – “Then her mother-in-law said to her, ‘Where did you reap this day, and where did you work? Blessed be he who recognized you. And she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said: The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
INTRODUCTION from Ruth 2:19
When Ruth went to Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi after her return, she needed resources to support herself, and just as we have been victorious through prayer and work, she found Boaz’s field to work in. There would be her livelihood. In that field Ruth found things she hadn’t found anywhere else. That was the right place for Ruth.
DEVELOPMENT
Boaz’s field is symbolic of the Lord’s work. When we come home tired from this world, we find a place where, like Ruth, we find ourselves:
Welcome: Ruth was welcomed by Boaz, who told her not to go to another field.
“Then Boaz said to Ruth: Hear, my daughter; go not to glean in another field, neither pass over from hence: but thou shalt abide here with my maidens.” Ruth 2:8
So it has been with us. We have a place where we reap the Lord’s blessings every day
Work: Ruth knew that her work would have a result, she returned home with an ephah of barley, more than she needed and much more than she deserved. In this work, all our work has a result. And our work has brought sustenance to our spiritual life.
Mercy: In the work in the field she found the mercy of Boaz. When man does the Work, God is pleased with him.
Ruth had a great struggle: to make ends meet. The only way to win was to work in Boaz’s field and build a relationship with him. The solution for Ruth was to meet and talk to Boaz (prayer) and work in the field.
What has sustained this work and this church is talking to the owner of the Field, the Lord Jesus, it’s prayer, it’s building a relationship with Him, it’s the work in the Field.
CONCLUSION of Ruth 2:19
Ruth’s work had a result. Our work in the Gospel is the weapon we have to overcome this world, to be sustained.
It was in the Field that Ruth spoke to Boaz, and it is by getting involved with the Work that we are led to have a life of prayer, and so we obtain mercy and are sustained.
Where are you and I working? What have we harvested?
Bruno Rocha
Maceió/AL
Preaching outline on Ruth 2:19 – “Then her mother-in-law said to her, ‘Where did you reap this day, and where did you work? Blessed be he who recognized you. And she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said: The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
More Preaching Outlines
BE AT THE LORD’S FEET – Ruth 3:8
JESUS, THE MASTER OF LIFE – John 20:16
And she went to the threshing floor – Ruth 3:6
INVITATION TO COMMUNION – Ruth 02:14
The Last Faithful Church in the Book of Ruth – Ruth 1:1-5
