May your wages be full...

even though your fortunes may have fallen. 

(Ruth 2.8-13)

This is a great story, the story of Naomi and her two daughters-in-law. It is generally viewed as a love story between Boaz and Ruth, which eventually led to the birth of a great-grandson named David - the Shepherd King.

In fact, one of the great vows of literature which has a classic role in many wedding rituals is a quote from Ruth which says, "Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God..."

Of course this was said by Ruth to her 1st mother-in-law, Naomi. 

I think the key to understanding the 'fairy-tale' story of Ruth and Boaz is really found in the remainder of the quote: Ruth 1:16. "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." (King James Version)

Notice that 17th verse, "Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

Now notice the 18th verse, "18. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her."

The Living Bible says, "18. And when Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind and could not be persuaded otherwise, she stopped urging her."

The New International Version says, "18. When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."

I don't care how you translate it - 'stedfastly minded,' 'made up her mind and could not be persuaded otherwise,' 'was determined' the message is the same.

If your fortunes have fallen, it takes a measure of thinking things through; persistence; and loyalty to come to the point where your wages are full.

That doesn't mean that your next job after a crisis will be in the manor house, even if you feel you were "to the manor born."

It's quite possible that you have found yourself in various degrees of starting over again. That's okay. Think about it - change the things you didn't particularly like the first time and do it better this time. 

The lineage of Jesus didn't come from Ruth's first husband - it came from the second time around.