HANDFUL OF PURPOSE
BY PASTOR MARK TAYLOR
In the book of Ruth God vividly portrays this principle of mercy, Godly living, and Godly giving. In the Old Testament, under the Mosaic law, gleaning was one of the rights of the people. The farmer was forbidden of God to reap the corners of his fields. It was to be left for the widows, the fatherless, and the poor in the land. The same thing was true of their orchards and vineyards.
Ruth is a book filled with many of what some might call "accidents" that demonstrate how God works out His purpose, on purpose, with no accidents involved. It's a picture of God's over-abundant love for His people. We don't deserve to be His children, much less to be receive an abundant outpouring of His blessing and grace. He is good to us because He is good, and because He loves us.
In chapter one, we see Ruth deciding to follow Naomi and to adopt Naomi's people as her people and Naomi's God as her God. "Where You Shall Go, I Shall Go, Your God shall be my God" In chapter two, we see Ruth working and serving. It's a picture of our role as believers in Christ, and God's providence to his believers though a Savior. In chapter three, we see Boaz marrying Ruth and saving her from her suffering, and it's a beautiful picture of how Christ rescues His people from sin. Boaz, from Bethlehem, is often referred to as "the kinsman redeemer". In chapter four, we see Ruth enjoying a bountiful reward and inheritance that she didn't earn. It was given to her by grace.
Boaz is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. He is called “a mighty man of wealth.” Naomi is a type of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding Ruth to her “kinsman redeemer”. Ruth is a representation of those who do not have a relationship with God but are seeking to live right. The barley that is being dropped is the Word of God.
You and I have a Lord and Savior who can more than provide for our needs. In this second chapter of Ruth, we see this law of gleaning illustrated. The things recorded here are written for our learning and for our admonition. Indeed, all that is written in the Book of Ruth is intended by God the Holy Spirit to show us the goodness, grace, and glory of Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer. When Boaz saw Ruth gathering grain behind the reapers in his field, he commanded them to intentionally leave some extra handfuls of grain for her. To her, she saw this as a blessing from the Lord, and it most certainly was.
Ruth received the favor of God because she was in the right field. Other people might have cast her away because of her background. However, Boaz welcomed her into his field. God's love and favor placed her in the right place and the right time. He provided the opportunity, but she still had to do the work. She still had to ask the questions. She had to take advantage of the blessing that was placed before her.
“When Ruth went back to work again, Boaz ordered his young men, "Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her. 16 And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don't give her a hard time”. (Ruth 2:15).
In order for God to drop handful of purpose on you, it is important that you are in the right family (being a child of God), being in the right field (God’s House), and that you are a person of right living (Ruth was a woman of virtue). In chapter 2 we are introduced to Boaz, Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer. Everything in Ruth’s life hinged upon that man who had the right and the might to redeem her. And everything in our lives hinges upon Christ, our great Boaz, our Kinsman-Redeemer, who has the right and the might to redeem our pour souls.
He drops us handfuls of His grace because there is a purpose to it. The only certainty we have about the favor of God is where it originates. The favor of God comes at different times, to different people, in different amounts but it is all the favor of God. The bible tells us that God loves us, and favors us, but does not really tell us why? We don't deserve it. We haven't earned it. We have not appreciated it, and honored it. But he loves us anyway, and favors us anyway. It's a mystery of the faith. A wonderful mystery, but a mystery nonetheless. We are his prized creation, his jewel, and that will never change.
Ruth was a poor woman on here hands and knees picking up the scraps and leftovers. It would have been easy for her to think that God was giving her the short end of the stick. But instead she saw blessing, and was given even more blessing. Ruth became the Great Grandmother of King David and ancestor of Jesus Christ. The favor of God and the handfuls of purpose you walk in today will effect and bring blessings to your lineage after you. God has it ALREADY planned out. Ruth did not deserve the handfuls. She received because it was in God's will that she receive. It wasn't a merit award. It was simply how God wanted to do it at this time.
God has some “Handful of Purpose” for us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you." (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
Find the right field where God is working. Certainly the church is one of those places. Small group Bible studies and fellowships are others. The important thing is be where God’s Word is being given as “handful of purpose” for your benefit. Be sure that Christ is in charge of the field where you are working, for it is He that drops the “handful of purpose” for you. Be a Godly person in your life style and actions so Christ will show His favor on you.
"DELIGHT YOURSELF in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. COMMIT YOUR WAY to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this." (Psalms 37:4-5)
