Finding A “Worthy” Relationship

Love in the Sunset by kidultchia at www.sxc.hu

If asked to share a Bible romance many would suggest the beautiful story of Boaz and Ruth from the era of the Judges.   I love this little book.  The way this story is often told is that the wealthy Boaz falls for the beautiful, young widow who is destitute, virtuous, and caring.  They fall in love and live happily ever after.  This is not really the Bible story, just how we like to tell it!

The book of Ruth focuses on two characters doing the will of God.  There is a key word in the book to describe these characters.  It contains a great lesson for all of us in 2013. It is the word “worthy” (ESV).

Boaz is introduced as a “worthy” man in 2:1.  This term carries the meaning of moral worth, integrity, strength, and virtue.  It also can carry the idea of wealth and influence in the community.  Boaz is shown throughout the text as a “worthy” man.  He loves the Lord and wants to do the Lord’s will (ch. 2-4).

Ruth is described as a “worthy” woman in 3:11.  This is the same word in the Hebrew.  She is also a woman of worth and virtue.  This word is used in Proverbs 12:4, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.” And it is this type of woman that is described in Proverbs 31:10 and following.  She is loyal, loving, virtuous, hard-working, and faithful.  She is the excellent wife and virtuous woman.

I am sure there are many single ladies and maybe a few single men today who just as soon the calendar skip February 14th.  They wonder if they ever will find someone to love.  Just as there are thousands of young people who are beginning to date and look for a relationship.  There are many older people either divorced or widowed who are depressed and lonely, wondering if they will ever find love again.  God would teach us not to put our hope and happiness in finding a relationship.  Rather, the man and the woman should determine to be  “worthy” in their character and faith in God.  Don’t compromise your integrity, purity, and standards.  You be a “worthy” person and look for a “worthy” spouse.  In the words of Matthew 6:33, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”  You be worthy and you will find through the providence of God the relationship you need to be in with another worthy Christian.

But the book of Ruth goes one step farther.  In 4:11 after these two worthy people have gotten together through an act of fulfilling the law of God, not romantic passion.  The people of the city offer their blessing.  In it they encourage them to “act worthily.”  This is the same root word connected with a verb.  This is the duty of everyone now in a relationship and the goal of two worthy individuals.  They can’t set back on their past virtue, faith, and acts of service.  The relationship has potential for greater service and good when two become one.  They must now meet the challenges they face together with faith and love.  They are to act worthy as a couple and in the context of Ruth they are to produce worthy offspring.  Boaz and Ruth did well at this, as they are the great-grandparents of David and a part of the lineage of Jesus.

So on this Valentine’s day let me encourage you, man or woman, single, married, divorced, or widowed to not buy into all the world says about love and happiness but remember that true joy comes through a “worthy” and “excellent” life of character lived in trust and obedience to God.  It worked out great for a widowed Moabite woman who chose to be a “worthy” woman.  It will work out well for you too!