Love is Pragmatic in Nature

Scripture: Ruth 2:1-2

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.  And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

Insights:  As we look at today’s verses keep in mind what we have learned these past two weeks about Moab and Israel.  Also keep in mind the fact Naomi and Ruth are widows and do not have anyone to take care of them.  These truths set the scene for today’s verses.  These women are desperate for food.  Now levitical law instructed the Israelites to not harvest everything thing off of the crops.  The reason God gave this provision was to help take care of the poor and sojourners.  Ruth pragmatically approaches Noami and tells her, “Mom, I am going into the fields because if I don’t we are going to starve to death and that won’t be a good thing (poetic license).”  Those words were not what the Scriptures record, but in essence this point is the gist of their situation.  There are some who are negative toward a pragmatic approach to life.  They often quote the phrase, “The end justifies the means,” which is not at all what pragmatism means.  For example, Hitler stated the aryan race was his end and the means by which he was going to justify his effort was through the extermination of the Jews.  This kind of logic is sinful and not pragmatic, but rather psychotic.  One who is pragmatic is capable of assessing the situation and making a logical decision to help advance the cause, mission, objective or need.  Pragmatic people are not content to just sit around and do nothing as situations begin to deteriorate around them.  We at FBCBG are also not satisfied with the status quo of our current situation.  As a result, the Strategic Planning Team has submitted to you a vision which is pragmatic in nature to lead us into better days of ministry.  It is my prayer we at FBCBG will take the same honest evaluation of our situation as Ruth did with hers.  I also pray we will have the same kind of boldness as Ruth to act on our convictions in order to usher in these better days.

Questions:

1.  What is the objective for which you are working?

2.  What is your commitment level toward your goal?

Prayer: Father, You tell us in the gospels that the one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for Your kingdom.  May I be resolute to press hard after You and Your will.  Amen.