FINDING YOUR PLACE AT HIS FEET - Ruth 3:1-11

Intro: There are many places where we can spend the seconds, minutes, hours and days that make up our lives. We can spend them in the world pursuing sin and its pleasures. We can spend our lives chasing prosperity. We can spend our time enjoying recreation. It can be spent working, with family, helping others. And, some of those are good and valid things. However, the best way to spend every second of your life is to spend it at the feet of Jesus. When we are there, He gives meaning to all the other things we do in life. In fact, being at His feet enables every area of our life to have more meaning.

This passage finds Ruth getting to the feet of Boaz. When she got there, everything in her life changed forever. Her experience in getting to His feet teaches us lessons about getting to the feet of Jesus that we need to learn. Let me share the truths in this passage with you today. I want to help you to find your place at His feet.

I. V. 1-4 THE POSSIBILITIES FOUND AT HIS FEET

A. The Possibility Of A New Home - Ruth is a widow. With Boaz, she has the opportunity to experience the joy of a new marriage relationship with someone who can love her, provide for her and comfort her. (Note: All those who come to Jesus by faith receive a new home here (in Jesus - Col. 3:3) and in Heaven, John 14:1-3.)

B. The Possibility Of A New Hope - Ruth is a widow. As a widow, her life will be nothing more than endless days of suffering, poverty, loneliness and defeat. If she can enter into this relationship with Boaz, her entire future will be forever altered. (Note: Ill. Where the sinner is and will be without Jesus, Eph. 2:12; Psa. 9:17. In Jesus, the saints find a new future! Life has meaning and there is hope for tomorrow! Ill. All we have in Him.

•All Spiritual Blessings - Eph. 1:3

•Eternal Salvation - John 3:16; Heb. 7:25

•A close relationship with God in Heaven - Eph. 2:13-17

•Absolute security - John 10:28-29

•An ever present Lord - Heb. 13:5

•An Advocate in Heaven - 1 John 2:2

•A High Priest In Heaven - Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34

•A Friend that sticks closer than a brother - Pro. 18:24

C. The Possibility Of A New Happiness - Ruth will never be fulfilled and happy in her current condition. She needs the love and security that can only be offered by someone like Boaz. (Note: In Jesus, the saints find true joy, 1 Pet. 1:8. This is something that sin, with all its pleasures, Heb. 11:25, cannot offer! There is great joy in knowing Jesus!)

II. V. 4-9 THE PRESENTATION MADE AT HIS FEET

A. V. 4 It Involved Research - Ruth was commanded to watch the place where Boaz laid himself down. Of all the men there, she was to isolate him and see where he was resting. If she was going to get at his feet, she had to find him.

B. V. 5-6 It Involved Resolve - When Ruth heard what was required, she said, "I will do it!" This would require much courage and humility on the part of Ruth. It required her wanting to be with Him so much that she made the effort to go there. It required her to humble herself to lie at his feet. It also required great courage for her to approach this wealthy and important man.

C. V. 7-9 It Involved A Request -The context and the fears of both Ruth and Boaz. Then he awakes and she pops the question! Her request to be covered by him is a request for marriage.

III. V. 10-11 THE PROMISES RECEIVED AT HIS FEET

A. V. 10a He Received Her - Imagine the fears that must have occupied her mind as she lay there. "What if he rejects me?" "What if he misinterprets my actions?" "What if he publically humiliates me?" "What if he drives me away and refuses to have anything further to do with me?" She needed not worry, for when he speaks, he says "Fear not!" Boaz wanted to be close to her too, as much or more than she did!

B. V. 11b He Reassured Her - Boaz responds to Ruth's request by telling her that he will do everything necessary to see that they are together. He will take care of all the matters involved. She had been told that if she could just get to his feet, he would tell her what to do, v. 4. She got there and she was told to trust Boaz, he would see to all the details!

C. V. 10, 11c He Rejoiced Over Her - Boaz praises Ruth for her love for him and for her godly lifestyle. Her behavior and godly life have worked together to bring all this to pass for her.

Conc: When Ruth made the effort to get at the feet of Boaz, everything in her life changed. Our heavenly Boaz, the Lord Jesus Christ can and will do the same for you, if you will get at His feet. Who possesses the courage and the resolve to move from where you are right now to get to His feet? If you have never been to His feet, then I invite you to come right now for salvation. If you have been there and have wandered away, then I invite you to return to His feet and rediscover the blessings that can only be found there. If you are at His feet right now, then I invite you to come before Him, thank Him for allowing you to be there and ask Him to help you remain as close to Him as you need to be!