In the Old Testament one outstanding example of devotedness and piety is Ruth. Four short chapters give us the course of a life that meets the standards of Col. 1:18 and 3:11. In Ruth 1:18 it tells us that "she was steadfastly minded." Her heart was set on the God of Israel. She was not turned aside, come what may. We, too, need a single eye for the Christ of God. Can we so forget self (in all its varied forms), so as to cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart (Acts 11:23)?
It says "unto the Lord." The expression suggests something about lordship, dominion, and authority. Our own response to that ought to be submission, subjection, and obedience. This is the way that Ruth began. We can make no progress without the same spirit, being steadfastly minded, with purpose of heart. Notice, too, that it is connected with the heart, not merely purpose of the mind. Mental resolve, strong resolutions won't do. Our Lord Jesus is looking for the hearts of His people. “And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou?... And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought today is Boaz." Ruth 2:19. Here is the preeminence of the Person of our Savior, the mighty Man of wealth who came down to do us good and sold all that He had in order to do it.
Naomi wanted to know, she was quite insistent about it, "Where? Where?" Ruth was very careful to not answer the question. She could probably have given the street address or otherwise identified the field, but she did not do it. Was it rudeness or impolite to decline to answer? No, she had something else on her mind that made the "where" most unimportant. She spoke of the man whom she had met. Naomi asked "where" "Oh, let me twice. Ruth answered twice about the "whom." The person tell you about of the man she had met was so THE MAN esteemed by her as to render the place and all of its features of no I met today!" significance to her. The affections were so strongly engaged with the man that she could not talk of much else.
The compassion of the foreman in charge of the work, the kindness of those that shared their lunch with her, the arrangements for her safety, the handfuls of purpose, and the welcome to come again to the same field-she could have spoken of some or all of these. But after all, they would have been occupation with things concerning herself. She wasted no time telling Naomi of such things; instead she said: "Oh, let me tell you about the man I met today!”
Do we spend more time with technical questions than we spend in lifting up our Savior, speaking well of Him? Ruth was so absorbed by the man that she spoke of little else. Why do we have so much trouble bringing the name of Jesus into our conversation? Perhaps it is because of the distance at which we walk-too much like Peter who followed afar off. Happily he learned his lesson. Oh, that we might learn our lessons more readily.
Luke writes in 9:32 that "when they were awake, they saw His glory." Do we need to be awakened, to be more sensitive to His presence and more conscious of who He is? If we are alert and awake, then we will see His glory; at best it is through a glass darkly. Abraham altered the whole course of his life when the God of glory appeared to him. Saul of Tarsus had a similar meeting (Acts 9), and his course was also altered. If we were similarly persuaded in the light of His glory, our course would also be altered. Ruth 3 is the next reference. Here we need to read the whole chapter and count the number of times that the Holy Spirit uses the word "down"—a total of seven times. The number seven expresses a fullness, here suggesting a completeness, and entire giving up of self. Is there anything harder for us to do than to come down? We just naturally resist the idea. All of our natural impulses are to the up side, promotion, elevation. We just cannot come down, particularly if it is perceived that somebody else is trying to put us down. In a burst of decency we might be willing to come down of our own volition, because we want to do it, but watch out when somebody tries to put us down! This chapter tells us plainly of the general area where we belong; it is down and not up!
Then twice in the chapter we find the expression "at his feet." It is not merely down, or down on some random basis, but down to a specific place. Doesn't this remind us of Luke 10? Verse 39 tells us of Mary who "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word." We are also told that her part was a "good part" and that it was "needful." She sat, not running about, but in quiet repose with a willingness to wait. "At Jesus' feet" says something about subordination, subjection, meekness, absence of self-promotion, and a deference as to Himself. To hear His Word shows something of a teachable spirit, a willingness to be instructed rather than a striving to be heard.
Ruth 4:10 and 13 is the next reference: "Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife.... So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.”
In the first three chapters we read much of what Ruth said and did. In the fourth chapter we read nothing of what she said, and little of what she did. That which we do read of her is connected with Boaz. She is so merged with that mighty man of wealth as to be of interest only as she is connected with Boaz. She is now of interest only because of her relationship with the man Boaz. The bride is merged into the bridegroom. It sounds a little like Genesis 5:2 where it is said of Adam and Eve that He "called their name Adam." The two of them were so much one as to be called by one name. Are we willing to give our Lord Jesus the place of preeminence so thoroughly as to be nothing ourselves? Are we so set to give Him the honor that is due to His name that it does not hurt our individual or collective feelings to be in the shade, unnoticed? Do we have to be heard? Self-assertiveness in Ruth is all gone. She didn't even name her own child; other women named the boy Obed.
Here is our proper course illustrated in real life; it has been done!
Ruth 1: A single eye—steadfastly minded. Ruth 2: The preeminence of the Person.
Ruth 3: Coming down, self-judgment, at His feet.
Ruth 4: Self lost sight of, He is everything.
The first three chapters of the little book of Ruth give us the three essential steps in reaching that state of affairs where "Christ is everything" to us. Not one of the three can be omitted. Observe further the sequence that is indicated. It is in order, #1, then #2, and then #3; not #3, #2, #1 or in any other sequence. For example, it is utterly useless to try to adopt #3 without first embracing #2. And #2 is also beyond our grasp unless we have gone through #1.