Birthdays are a big deal in a large family.  One of the few things that is yours alone.  It is not hand-me-down.  It does not have to be shared.  In our family the birthday-boy chooses the breakfast and dinner menu.  He remains in bed until the assembled family serenades with strains of “Happy Birthday!”  If a student, he decides whether or not the day is a school holiday.  And at meals, the birthday boy eats from the “blue plate” emblazoned with “This Is Your Day, CELEBRATE!”

As our fledglings began to fledge and our nest emptied, my wife realized there were new nests needing a “blue plate.”  After all no birthday liturgy is complete without it.  So, she scoured the internet and found a few identical plates.  No mean feat since ours was close to 30 years old. As the first arrived we opened the box only to find a plate with a sizeable crack.  Quite disappointing! While suitable for display, it was not a gift that could be used.

Gifts that arrive broken or don’t work as promised or break quickly and easily because of poor quality, design, or construction are always a disappointment.  We hoped to find usefulness, reliability and enjoyment.  We thought our lives would be better, but instead we have accumulated one more broken thing.  Unusable and unused gifts are useless to us.  Amassing hordes of unused or unusable gifts is the province of dragons.

But all the gifts God gives arrive in working order. They are never broken.  Never fail to work as promised. Never disappoint. They are not gifts for display but for use.  Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 12 as he reminds the Corinthian believers that gifts are given to edify the body, to serve others, and to glorify God not the believer. 

James, the brother of Jesus and leader in the Jerusalem church also writes about the way God’s gifts work in us.  Noting that saving faith is indeed the gift of God, he goes on to show that God’s gift of faith produces good works in us. 

“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.“ James 2:18

And in Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul beautifully describes the transformative work of grace and faith, given sovereignly and graciously by God to sinners hopelessly “dead in sins and transgressions.”  But the apostle concludes by describing the outcome of the gift of faith.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:8-10

Matthew Henry poignantly noted, that while “works are not the root of grace, they are the fruit of grace.”   Faith works!  It is not merely a gift from God that we display in a spiritual shadow box, compartmentalize with our Sunday best, or put in storage with our “spiritual special things.”  James goes on to say, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” -James 2:14

Faith works!  In chapters 1 and 2 of Ruth, God revealed his loving-kindness, grace, covenant love, hesed to Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz.  The Lord brought Ruth to faith at the crossroads between Bethlehem and Moab.  The Lord patiently comforts and provides for an embittered Naomi to bolster her flagging faith.  And the Lord’s loving-kindness shown by Ruth to Naomi provokes loving-kindness in godly Boaz.  When God’s grace transforms a life, it creates a gracious chain reaction.  And as faith is strengthened by God’s faithfulness it becomes bold, expectant, and active.

Chapter 3 of Ruth is an intense climax.  Naomi and Ruth act boldly and expectantly to claim the promise of redemption through a kinsman-redeemer.  And Boaz acts decisively with tenderness and integrity to fulfill his role as a redeemer.  From a human point of view, Naomi and Ruth take huge risks.  The narrative of Ruth and Boaz at midnight on the threshing floor is filled with danger.  Danger to reputation and relationships.  And the danger that misunderstanding might destroy all hopes for future happiness.  Despite the dangers, God’s people act, but God directs.  Faith in the faithful one made Naomi, Ruth and Boaz act boldly, expectantly and decisively.

Faith works!  Does your faith work?  Does your faith in The Faithful One animate your life?  Cause you to live boldly, expectantly, decisively, faithfully? Join us as we examine Ruth 3:1-18 and consider how faith works.  We meet on the square in Pottsville, right next to historic Potts’ Inn at 10:30 am for worship.  Get directions here or contact us for more info.  Or join our livestream on YouTube.