Ruth 1: 1-18

This was written for and given at the Lynnville (IL) UMC on November 2, 2003.

PLEASE listen to the WHOLE thing before you start Throwing ‘stuff’! 🙂

          Some of those who hear this may remember how that when my Grandpa Luebbert retired from Granite City Steel in 1965, he and Grandma bought a farm in the hills and hollers of the Ozarks, about 40 miles south of Jeff City, and lived there for over fifteen years. During that time, there came into existence a whole ton of ‘Grandpa’ stories.

          One of my favorites is of the time he had come back from a very cold morning of hunting and in his rush to get inside, forgot to empty the shells, like he usually did, outside. Oh well, he thought, and pumped them out, counting as he went. Then, like normal, he pulled the trigger to make sure it was empty… and shot the leg off of one of their rocking chairs and put a hole in the floor!!! I guess, from the way they told it later, Grandma must have really come unglued… and that time, at least, Grandpa had no choice but to be still and listen.

Grandpa was born in 1900 and died in 1983, and I guess if ever I had a hero in my life, it was him. At least it seems as if I learned an awful lot of my mannerisms, my humor, and my general outlook on life from him. I learned how to patch stuff together with baling wire, how to drive and handle equipment, how to fish, how to farm, and how to ‘think out of the box’, if that was what was called for. I learned an awful lot of my work ethic from him, too, but I also learned that it was alright to just relax and be a little crazy sometimes.

When the work was done for the day, we would come in and sit around the huge dining-room table that he had built some years earlier so that all of his family could sit together, and we would talk. Ohhhh, I wish I’d had a tape-recorder going during some of those talks! But, I’ll save all of that story for another day!

All in all, as I say, I learned a lot of really good things from him. But there was one thing I learned that maybe wasn’t so good. You see, Grandpa had this way of teasing Grandma that was so much fun to watch. He would be sitting at his usual place across from you at that table and be just talking away about any number of things when suddenly he would stop, wink at you, and say something to Grandma while she was working in the kitchen. Then you could hear the fireworks start… she would start carrying on about whatever it was he had said, sometimes coming into where we sat at the table just all upset and reading him the riot act… and all the while he’d be looking at you with a little grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye. What great fun! And I learned how to do it very well! But you know what? None of the women I ever tried it on thought it was the least bit funny! Can you imagine?

As far back as I can remember, the book of Ruth has always been my favorite. Now, if I were to be honest about it, that may be because it was one of the few books of the Bible with a story-line that a young boy could understand. Growing up in the days of Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best, and The Donna Reed Show, the idea of a woman’s ‘place’ being in the home was one that was being ‘programmed’ into all of us during that time. And the whole intent of the book of Ruth, to my young-boy’s mind, was to reinforce that point of view… that a woman’s place… (Now… please don’t throw anything!!! Let me finish the sermon!)… That a woman’s place in the proper order of things was to be subservient to men!

On top of that, there is just something so romantic about this particular passage when read from the King James… “whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”  The fact that she was actually saying it to her mother-in-law- never seemed to enter the equation… Ruth was professing her love and devotion to that person and to that person’s way of life. And I fully expected the woman that I married, on that far, far future date, when I was a child, to feel just exactly that way about me! I mean, look at Mrs. Cleaver… all she ever wanted to do was stay home to do laundry and keep the house clean, and then make sure all of the men in her life were well fed and well loved… what more could any woman want?

BOY! Have times changed! But you know what? It’s all for the better!

The ‘women’s lib’ movement, as it was called, actually began a very long time ago, but it seemed to me, at least, that it reached its’ hey-day during the 60’s and 70’s. But most of us ‘males’ were still living in the dark ages! We still felt that the proper place for any ‘good’ woman was in the home. After all, isn’t that what the Bible always said? Ahhhhh! One of the episodes of the Western Bible Study I did many years ago, Death Valley Days, taught us better!

Let me read a quote from the Handbook of Bible Application that I used during that session… “God’s image is the basis for human self-worth. Knowing that we are made in God’s image and thus share many of his characteristics provides a solid basis for self-worth. Human worth is not based on possessions, achievements, physical attractiveness, or public acclaim. Instead it is based on being made in God’s image. Because we bear God’s image, we can feel positive about ourselves. Criticizing or downgrading ourselves is criticizing what God has made and the abilities he has given us. Knowing that you are a person of worth helps you love God, know him personally, and make a valuable contribution to those around you.

God’s image is shared equally by women and men. God made both man and woman in his image. Neither man nor woman is made more in the image of God than the other. From the beginning the Bible places both man and woman at the pinnacle of God’s creation. Neither sex is exalted, nor is either depreciated.”

          On the subject of marriage, the same source says… “Marriage is a cooperative effort between equal partners. God forms and equips men and women for various tasks, but all these tasks lead to the same goal — honoring God. Man gives life to woman; woman gives life to the world. Each role carries exclusive privileges; there is no room for thinking that one sex is superior to the other.

Marriage is a gift from God. God gave marriage as a gift to (the world). Marriage was not just for convenience, nor was it brought about by any culture.”

          In spite of appearances, my Grandma and Grandpa must have really loved one another. But because of the attitudes that prevailed throughout their lives, they spent a great deal of their years together just ‘existing’… each of them taking care of their end of raising a family and building a life… but never really being able to cooperated and support each other in the process! That is NOT what God made man and woman to be… He made us as equal partners… different, yes… but equal! And that equality has always existed! It is only man that said otherwise! Let’s look, briefly, at some examples.

Women were always an important part of Jesus’ ministry while on this earth. In Luke 8:1-3 we read, “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”

And in Acts 2, Peter quotes from the prophet Joel by saying:

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

          These verses, and many others in the New Testament, give testimony to the importance and equality of everyone, including females. The idea that men were somehow superior is an entirely manmade idea! Imagine that! And I would like to extrapolate that ‘revelation’ with the thought that all peoples are equal in the sight of God, as well! To quote from a children’s song that I’m sure all of you remember… “Red and yellow, black and white. All are precious in His sight!” All truly ARE precious in His sight… every man, woman and child of every race, creed or color!

          So…. Where does this leave us in regards to the book of Ruth? Well, actually, it doesn’t change a thing! As I said, Ruth is professing her open, all-encompassing love and devotion for her mother-in-law. But for us to fully appreciate what that is about, and how it applies to us, today, we need to tie it into a Gospel reading, Mark 12: 28 – 34, as well. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

          It is only when we begin to love God and our neighbors with that same total, un-assuming, and all-powerful devotion that Ruth professes in these verses, that we begin to approach that state of all-encompassing love that God has for us, and that He intends for us to spread in His name.

Ruth gave her life over completely to that person she felt love and a responsibility for! And it is in that same way that WE must give ourselves over to God… completely… overwhelmingly… and unconditionally! That’s what He expects… that’s what He DEMANDS!

May the presence of God the Creator give you strength;

May the presence of God the Redeemer give you peace;

May the presence of God the Sustainer give you comfort;

May the presence of God the Sanctifier give you love.

                   Amen.