"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son."
Ruth 4:13 (NKJV)
• God's Divine arrangement brought Ruth in contact with Boaz.
- God works with each individual's heart, their motives.
IF your heart, your motives are wrong, God knows, and He will reward you accordingly. - God did reward Ruth according to her disposition (Galatians 6:7).
YOU may succeed in deceiving human beings, but you cannot deceive God. - Some present themselves good to other people, but their hearts are rotten.
YOU can impress human beings to accept you, praise you, but you cannot impress God.
GOD will reward you based on the condition of your heart. - In your relationship with others, know that God would reward you based on the intent of your heart: "KNOWING THAT WHATEVER GOOD ANYONE DOES, HE WILL RECEIVE THE SAME FROM THE LORD, whether he is a slave or free" (Ephesians 6:8).
GOD rewarded Ruth with a good husband because she did relate with Naomi with a good heart (Ruth 2:11,12; 4:15).
11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “IT HAS BEEN FULLY REPORTED TO ME, ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW SINCE THE DEATH OF YOUR HUSBAND, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.
12 THE LORD REPAY YOUR WORK, AND A FULL REWARD BE GIVEN YOU BY THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, UNDER WHOSE WINGS YOU HAVE COME FOR REFUGE.”
Ruth 2:11,12 (NKJV)
SHE was part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).
- If your heart is right, God will work things out for your good.
IF you are relating with someone and the person is dealing with you deceptively, whilst your own heart is right with the person, God will eventually reward your faithfulness.
"Therefore, putting away lying, "LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOUR," for we are members of one another."
Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV)
• In relating with people, listen to God and hear Him out on whatever you want to do with anyone.
- Be a doer of God's Word and do commit to His hands whatever you want to do (James 1:22-25).
YOU may have some people around you who do not have a good heart, however, If you live in line with God's Word, you will not fall into their traps—you will not be a victim of their evil. - Whoever you are dealing with, bring God into the relationship, and give the feedback on every discussion and matter to Him. BY so doing YOU have given an opportunity to God, to be part of the relationship, and you have allowed Him to be involved in whatever you do with the person.
- If you employ the principle or method mentioned above, you also have to be impeccable, be truthful, honest and sincere with the person.
IF you are deceptive, playing hanky panky with the person, you should not expect God to defend you—for whatever you sow, you will surely reap (Galatians 6:7).
IF God will defend you At all, and fight your causes; YOU have to live right, live in line with His Word: "DO NOT LIE TO ONE ANOTHER, since you have put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:9).
GOD enables whoever has a right heart to prosper.
• Let your focus be on God, take your eyes away from MAN: "LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the author [originator] and finisher [perfecter] of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2).
THE intent of your heart is known to God (1 Chronicles 28:9).
- If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, study the Word and live by the principles of the Word.
RENEWING of your mind and transformation of the person of yours could only be through the knowledge of The Word of God (Romans 12:2). - The knowledge of the Word of God which you have acquired would enhance your prayer life.
- You get to know how to pray aright, and your prayers would be a result oriented ones.
FASTINGS would be a plus to your prayers, if you can discipline yourself to observe it.
• The intent of your HEART:
- "THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED; who can know it?
- I, THE LORD, SEARCH THE HEART, I TEST THE MIND, EVEN TO GIVE EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS, ACCORDING TO THE FRUIT OF HIS DOINGS" (Jeremiah 17:9,10).
- God knows the intent of the heart of every man, you cannot know it, except God reveals it to you.
- If God should open the heart of some to you, you will be surprised.
SOME may be around you who's hearts are not good towards you.
THEREFORE let God be part of whatever friendship or relationship you cultivated with anyone.
• You will not be a prey in the hand of the enemy in Jesus' name.
Peace!