WHAT SHOULD I DO?

So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. Ruth 3:6

Some decisions are easy. If you were to offer me an apple or a banana, I would pick the banana every time. Some decisions are much more difficult and consequential. Like, who am I to marry? Or, what job should I pick for a career?

Ruth’s example provides clarity on how to answer these questions. Note two things. First and most importantly, she is guided by God’s Word. As a widow, the Old Testament Law granted her the right to demand a husband. Whenever God’s Word clearly speaks to an issue, you never need to question or wonder how to respond. Parents never have to wonder how to raise their children (Ephesians 6:4). Children never have to wonder how to respond to their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3). Husbands never have to wonder how to treat their wives (Ephesians 5:25-33). Wives never have to wonder how to treat their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24). When faced with any decision, begin by asking “What does God say about this issue?”

Next, Ruth seeks godly counsel. She is about to walk into a very delicate situation and her actions could be misinterpreted by Boaz. Furthermore as a foreigner she was probably still adjusting to a new culture with its unique expectations. She needed the fresh and trusted counsel of Naomi.

These two principles are beautifully woven together during feet washing. The water is a picture of God’s Word being applied as the cleansing agent (Ephesians 5:26). The giving of counsel to another is pictured as we wash one another’s feet. It is God’s Word that sets the standard, and it is God’s people who uphold and encourage us to make right choices.

Philip Moeller