This sermon was preached on November 2, 2014 at Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church. It was part of a sermon series covering the book of Ruth. This passage is roughly found in the middle Ruth. Instead of just using this passage as its own text, I used the entire book of Ruth with a focus on the turning point of the story; this is also know as the “ah-ha!” moment. The sermon includes a summary of what has happened in the story so far as well as hints to what comes next. The point was to connect Ruth’s story as she “fights the good fight” to our own story as we do the same. “Fight the Good Fight” is an implicit reference to 1 Timothy 6:12.
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Ruth 3:1-7
1 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. 2 Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.” 5 She said to her, “All that you tell me I will do.”
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet, and lay down.
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In high school, I was a part of band. Since I went to a small school in rural Colorado, the band was the marching, the concert, and my personal favorite, pep band. In pep band, at least once a week, we attended a home basketball or football game where we got to play the fun, upbeat songs I’m sure all we by heart now. “Louie, Louie” “On Wisconsin” – I’m sure you’re starting to remember. My high school even played “Eye of the Tiger” as one of ours. It’s those fun songs that inspire a friendly competition not only in the players of the game but also in the people in the crowd. It created an atmosphere of positive rivalry It was the music played by the pep band that create such a buzz of intensity of the room. It’s no wonder that the songs we played are called Fight Songs. These songs drive us to be something greater – to do something greater. This is what I call fighting the good fight. And today, we see it in the book of Ruth.
We are now officially halfway through our sermon series on the book of Ruth. We have read about the three central characters. First, we have Naomi – the bitter mother-in-law who believes she has lost everything in life. Second, there is Boaz – the kind and well-off man who is a relative of Naomi’s and therefore, a kinsman to Ruth. And third, our main character and our focus, Ruth. Together we have been following this young Moabite’s story as she adapts to her new life in a foreign land. And what we have heard so far, this of life of her has not been kind or easy for Ruth. In fact, it has been everything but kind or easy. We have experienced her hardships with her; we have felt her struggles. But despite all this, Ruth has endured. Ruth has strived to make her life better for both herself and Naomi. This entire time, Ruth has been – what we can refer to as – fighting the good fight.
Naomi has seen that Boaz has already taking a liking to Ruth. This was seen when Boaz gave Ruth lunch while she was gleaning in the fields. She rejoiced when Boaz show Ruth kindness; she asked the Lord to bless him. Because of this, Naomi saw how she could turn this into an advantage. She comes up with a plan to give herself and Ruth a home and a sense of security – to ensure they will no longer live in poverty and desperation. Ruth must offer herself to Boaz and if all goes well, Ruth (and Naomi) will have a better future. Sounds like a good plan… right?
Now up to this point, Ruth has been endearingly stubborn. Naomi tells Ruth to go back home to her own people. Ruth said, “No, I will go where you go.” Naomi tells Ruth to call her Mara for she is bitter. Ruth said, “No, I will you call you Naomi.” When Ruth was harassed in the fields by the workers, she continued to glean, ignoring the calls around her. Time after time, Ruth has refused to listen to her mother-in-law or the men around her. But here, in today’s passage, when Naomi tells Ruth to wash up, to put on perfume and her nicest clothes, and to go to Boaz and then wait for his instruction, she listens. Ruth responds, “I will do what you say.” I wonder if in this moment if Naomi threw up in her arms in exasperation and says, “Finally! Finally you listen to me!”
This moment makes you question Ruth. Why – for the first time – did she graciously agree to her mother-in-laws request? Has she given up hope? Has she become submissive? Is she tired of fighting the good fight? Or does Ruth have her own plan? Is something moving Ruth to a different agenda? Is this still the good fight?
They say every good story as an “Ah-Ha!” moment. A good story starts slowly with problems or issues in the text. And then when everything is at its worst, things slowly begin to get better until we arrive at the good news at the end. That transition from the bad to the good is the “Ah-Ha” moment. It’s that moment in the story where something unexpected happens – when everything begins to turn around. If Ruth’s story has an “Ah-Ha” moment, this is it. This moment – this plan devised by Naomi – will hopefully solve their troubles. This is where things will start to get better. And if that means this is the “Ah-Ha” moment, which it most definitely is, then Ruth has not given up. Ruth will listen to Naomi, but she above all, she will be directed by God. She will act with Godly conduct. Even now and more than ever, Ruth is fighting the good fight.
I’ve said this phrase a few times now. “Fight the Good Fight.” But what does it mean? Well, this phrase is rooted in Scripture. Paul says it in the books of Timothy. He wrote that he has fought the good fight of faith. He wrote this to show us – humankind – that even when our faith is at our greatest, we will face many struggles in life. We will have battles to conquer. It is in these moments that we must fight the good fight. Ruth has. Paul has. They have fought the good fight. They have fought it for themselves, they have fought it for others, and above all, they have fought it for God. This is the good fight.
What we see in the book of Ruth and what I’m sure all of have experienced: Life is not easy. Life was not meant to be easy. God never designed it to be that way. We are supposed to have our ups-and-downs. We are supposed to have bad times along with the good times. We will face times when nothing seems to go right; when the whole world seems to be against us. We will lose the things we love most. We will often feel defeated. But when we experience these hardships and challenges, God does not want us to give up. God wants us to persevere and to push forward. To live and learn. To become something greater than ourselves. God is there for every step of the journey. Walking with us hand-in-hand. Carrying us when we need it. God wants us to fight the good fight. We were made to fight the good fight.
If the world is still plagued by racism, classism, or sexism, we must fight for it to end.
If we feel some have been silenced by oppression, we fight for their right to have a voice and to be heard.
If you feel you a broken down by depression or anxiety, you fight and you fight long and hard to be happy.
If you feel like you have more to live for in life, then you fight for it.
And when you fight this fight - to make sure that this is the good fight - you must pray. Pray to God and ask for guidance. Ask for companionship and direction. Let God's hands be the ones that move you. This is it. You have been given a life worth fighting for. So go out, fight the good fight, and do so in the name of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
