we could come to the middle

let it all pass through

A sermon on the conclusion to Ruth:

The ballad of Ruth the Moabite builds to it’s seemingly inevitable crescendo. Only, before the string chorus can swell and Ruth and Boaz can sail off into happily ever after; there’s one last thing… 

It turns out there's someone a little higher up the ladder than Boaz, someone with a prior claim, someone with dibs…

Back in the day, official business was done at the city gate where there would be witnesses aplenty. And Boaz means to make this official. 

Boaz calls over the next-of-kin, and let’s him know he’s entitled to first look at Elimelch’s estate. Including a good, safe investment if ever there was one; a plum piece of property.

The next-of-kin asks to see the deed… And as he goes over the paperwork, he notices a rider! The property doesn’t come free and clear! To claim the property, you also have to claim Ruth! 

And Ruth, like the rest of us, comes with a history. 

In this case it means any offspring Ruth might have, could eventually claim the land for themselves.

Noticing that caveat, the next-of-kin suddenly remembers he really isn’t liquid at the moment, and rescinds his offer. Tells Boaz he can have whatever he wants from the estate. 

To the next-of-kin the investment was too risky. He has his own interests to look after. So he plays it safe, and doesn’t risk investing in the property…

It’s a reasonable thing to do, but it turns out to be all wrong.

The next-of-kin protects his own dividends, doesn’t he? But in the process, he loses everything else! He misses an opportunity to be a part of the great adventure of faith Ruth is on. He loses his place in this holy story altogether! 

And all because the next-of-kin lives as if his life were his own. 

The message of Ruth, though, is that’s not the way it is! 

Every character in this story is an Israelite, one of God’s people. In other words, they're not their own, they belong to God!

Ironically, though, it’s only Ruth the Moabite who isn’t, who actually dares to live as if she were! 

Ruth is the only one, at first, who lives as if someone else is looking after her interests. The only one free enough to risk everything to stick with the people she loves. To dare everything to chase after what really matters! 

And what’s so cool is; well, two things. First, Ruth becomes a witness for the true life faiths sets us free for. And secondly, her freedom in faith only engenders more. That it’s contagious!

I mean, its working on you, isn’t it? Doesn’t seeing Ruth’s rich, full life make you want to double-down on the promises you've been given and live more like her? I know I do. 

And, so does Boaz. When Boaz sees how Ruth lives, he wants to live more like her, too!

Ruth inspires Boaz to call the next-of-kin to the carpet. To, when the next-of-kin looses his spine, find his heart and claim everything in Elimelech’s deed!

And everything means EVERYTHING. Doesn’t it?

Boaz doesn’t just inherit a few more acres, he also inherits any family debt. More mouths to feed. Even Mahlon’s potential offspring!

But, in the upside-down world of belonging to God, when Boaz takes on all that lability, he gains everything!

And therein lies the rub; because that’s easier said than done, isn’t it? 

We can understand why that next-of-kin goes over the fine print, don’t we? We too have bought into the ethic of looking out for number one. Of keeping our own interest in mind.
We tell ourselves it’s reasonable, but it turns out it’s all wrong…

Because the Truth is, you’re more like Ruth, than you are the next-of-kin! 

In today’s scripture, Ruth officially becomes an Israelite. When Elimelech’s estate is bought, Ruth goes though what all God’s people have; she is purchased— and so have you!
Like Ruth, your life is NOT your own. You’ve been bought with a price. You've been redeemed. You belong to God! And that means all of you. 

And that’s what’s really hard about today’s scripture, isn’t it?

Living as freely as Ruth does, isn’t what’s really hard. What’s really hard is believing someone would actually want to have all of us.

Because like Ruth we all come with baggage, don’t we?

For Ruth it’s the potential offspring she might one day have. For us, it’s the rest of the baggage we come with. Those parts of our life that aren’t so faithful. The short-comings we try and cover-up. The moments from our past we wish we could leave there…

We’re no different than Ruth, when someone dares to claim us; they don’t just get us, they get everything we drag behind us, too. 

But you don’t need me telling you that, do you?

Because it’s all that stuff that convinces us that we’re unlovable. That we have to be the ones to save ourselves. That we have to look out for number one…

We convince ourselves it’s reasonable, but it turns about to be all wrong. 

Because you are so much more like Ruth than you know. Not only do you come with a past, but you have also been bought by a redeemer. Only this redeemer is twice as hasty as Boaz, and even more generous, too!

One of Martin Luther’s favorite ways to describe how God deals with us, is reminiscent of how Boaz goes about marrying Ruth. Luther called it the joyous exchange, and it played off the marriage laws, how the newly weds hold all things in common, the good and the bad.

Like when I got married to Amanda, sure she got someone with impeccable taste, but she also got someone saddled with school debt. She got it all. 

And that’s how it is when Jesus claims you; he claims everything!

And everything means everything. Your past included. Even those parts of your life you try and hide. 

Jesus takes all that on himself! 

And in return, he gives you everything that belongs to him!

And, everything means EVERYTHING! 

When Jesus binds himself to you in baptism, he does so, so completely that your sin and death becomes his; AND his righteousness and resurrection becomes yours!

Like Ruth, your life is not your own to live anymore! You’ve been purchased with a price. Not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. And, that purchase is so complete, so final that now it’s his very blood that courses through your veins!

You’re more like Ruth than you know!

Not only have you been purchased, you and your history. You’re also free of it! You’ve been given the life that really is life, life eternal. 

All that’s left for you, is the glory of God!

To do the contagious things of God! To live as if it were true, that you’re not your own anymore! That you’re free! Because it is true!

Last week we talked about how great Ruth is. And this week, Boaz is freed to do the same. 

Now as we prepare to leave, you’re given that same freedom, too!

Your life is lived in light of a promise. Now, on this side of heaven, a promise can only be trusted, and trust doesn’t always come easy. What’s easier to do, is live like that next-of-kin who forfeits his place in this great story. 

But while it may be easier, it’s a whole heck of a lot less fun, isn’t it?

Who among us doesn’t want to live as free as Ruth? To do daring and bold things. To love fiercely and freely! 

We all do. That’s why we’re here.

The promise of Ruth, our lives are a lot more like Ruth than we know. We too do not belong to ourselves. 

In the end, that will turn out to be the truest thing about ourselves. When we have no life of our own, Jesus will step in and fulfill this promise. He will take our death on himself; and in return he will give us his life!

That is the promise your life is lived in light of!

You’ve been purchased from the grave. Your inheritance sealed. There's no fine print to double-check, any details to wrangle over. Jesus has signed his name in permanent ink. It's finished.