Contentment...

[ArtsieSteph]

...does not come alone from getting a spouse. Sorry everyone. It's a common misconception that we all have to deal with, I know I have. Probably still do in a lot of places.

I wanted to share a snippet from the awesome website called Waiting for Your Boaz, which is an awesome website about waiting on God and growing in Him while waiting for your prospective mate. It's mainly focused toward us ladies, but I have heard of gents finding great inspiration from it as well.

10 Things To Remember If You Are Struggling With Being Single

 

[tourist]

I am very content with my wife but I know what you mean. You can wait for Boaz but probably should not wait for most of your young productive adult years, especially if you would want to start a family. Ruth didn't really wait for Boaz but saw an opportunity and went for it.

 

[Lanolin]

her mother in law Naomi was pushy and put her up to it. also Ruth had already been married so she knew what being married was like.

I would say that it was more Naomi wasnt happy without son or a grandson than Ruth actually needing a husband. Just my view though from reading the Book of Ruth.

 

[ArtsieSteph]

I wouldn’t want to personally rush myself into marriage because I wanted a family in my timeframe. I can always adopt no matter my age.

I do agree though it was definitely Naomi who was like “Hey Boaz is my relative YOU SHOULD GO FOR HIM!” But I know (since I actually just read Ruth like yesterday ) that not only had Naomi been concerned about making sure Ruth was gonna be taken care of after she was gone through Boaz, but also that Boaz had shown interest in Ruth first. Ruth had no notion of Boaz paying her any attention whatsoever, and specifically hadn’t been chasing around any of the young bucks Boaz had hired in his field while they were harvesting. She was focused on helping her mother-in-law; doing what she knew was right. And I think God honored that.

 

[cinder]

her mother in law Naomi was pushy and put her up to it. also Ruth had already been married so she knew what being married was like.

I would say that it was more Naomi wasnt happy without son or a grandson than Ruth actually needing a husband. Just my view though from reading the Book of Ruth.

Your ignorance of the cultural and social settings of Biblical events never ceases to astound me. Seems like every time you comment on a Bible story you make it sound like the characters had the thinking, desires and perspectives of our 21st century societies, and they just plain didn't. There're books, websites, Bible studies, plenty of resources out there to help us understand the world and society the story takes place in.

In this case, it wasn't primarily or only about Naomi getting a son or grandson (although someone to carry on the family name and inherit was so important that it was law that a dead man's brother should marry his deceased brother's wife to produce an heir for his brother (Deut 25:5-6) and the text implies something similar was expected in acquiring Naomi's husband's property in Ruth 4). The primary concern for both Ruth and Naomi was that they were widows and in that society being a childless widow meant being destitute with no economic means of support. Gleaning (why Ruth was in Boaz's field to begin with) was basically the welfare system of Ancient Israel which God had put in their law (see Lev 19:9-10). To put it accurately in modern terms, you had two impoverished women on welfare whose only option to economically better themselves was for Ruth to get married. Boaz was one of the relatives who had some sort of cultural responsibility to care for them and since he'd already shown Ruth some favor and protection, Naomi knew he was a good man and their most likely prospect for continuing to get the help they needed now that the harvest was over. And let's remember they're in Naomi's culture so Naomi is the one who knows what signals are being sent and how to send signals back.

The other comment to make is that Ruth knew that in returning with Naomi she was pretty much signing up for a life of widowhood and poverty (Jews had laws against marrying foreigners and there was bad blood between them and the moabites (Deut 23 : 3-6) which was likely a large part of why the people who heard their story had such good things to say about Ruth and respect for her. She sacrificed hugely for her faith and to take care of Naomi. Is it any wonder that God honored and rewarded her?

 

[ArtsieSteph]

Back to the OP, I had to go also to this. When we have relationships, we no longer have the ability to make unilateral decisions. At least not if we want a good relationship that is.

 

[Lanolin]

Ruth was pretty virtous and wasnt scheming to get a husband, if Naomi had not given her a nudge she wouldnt have been brave enough, but thankfully Boaz already liked her.

Ruth was not ever a gold-digger. Her first thought was to be with Naomi. She could have stayed in her homeland with her sister Orpah but she chose not to.

I think the Book of Ruth speaks more about how God will provide and trusting Him rather than two women desperate to find husbands.

if people think thats ignorant then I read my Bible in ignorance. But Im sure many other people have a different interpration except Im not going to say they are stupid because everyone reads it differently.

 

[ArtsieSteph]

I agree!! I love that Ruth has no plans for herself, all her going to Boaz was no only to provide for her mom-in-law, and then to be obedient to what Naomi suggested in presenting herself to Boaz as a possible marriage candidate.

 

[BrotherMike]

When I think of the word contentment, I embrace the blessings God has given me, but also have a stirring of how I can grow in Him. I’m not content in my relationship with Jesus. I want more of Him, less of me. I trust as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give the desires of our hearts.... and the most important part Lord willing. Trusting in His will and timing is taking place. Maybe our will is different than His will for us? This helps with the struggles of singleness.

 

[Lynx]

I'm not worried
Cause there's no hurry
The world's not passing me by
The Lord he knows
Just where each day goes
I know he won't leave me behind
And I won't be taking
A single thing
That my heart can't carry inside
I'm going home
And I'm only taking my time

 

[Princesse]

When I think of the word contentment, I embrace the blessings God has given me, but also have a stirring of how I can grow in Him. I’m not content in my relationship with Jesus. I want more of Him, less of me. I trust as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give the desires of our hearts.... and the most important part Lord willing. Trusting in His will and timing is taking place. Maybe our will is different than His will for us? This helps with the struggles of singleness.

I really like this.

Contentment doesn’t mean complacency. As you demonstrated, it often leads to gratitude and a clearer understanding of how much God has done.

Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts addresses the same by encouraging us to count the daily blessings we’ve received from Him.