WHO WILL IT BE...BOAZ OR BOZO?

WHO WILL IT BE…BOAZ OR BOZO?

My brother, Bishop Edwin C. Bass, is the Chief Operating Officer of the Church of God in Christ. He is also an anointed preacher.  I love his theological treatment of the sacrament of marriage, particularly as it relates to those mission critical destiny-decisions that are made by women regarding their future spouses. 

My brother’s sermonic exegesis contains a brilliant analogy that goes something like this: In the field of mathematics, we classify integers such as 1, 2, and 3 as WHOLE NUMBERS.  Invariably, whenever a WHOLE NUMBER is multiplied by a FRACTION, the PRODUCT is something substantially LESS.  For example, if you multiply the whole number “10” by the fraction “1/2” – the answer [the product] is “5” – which means that the whole number “10” has been greatly reduced by its interaction with the fraction, one-half. 

The spiritual application is simple, yet quite profound.  Instead of seeking and submitting to the wise counsel of GOD, many women (who start out in life as WHOLE NUMBERS), choose to join in marital covenant with a FRACTION (a broken, immature, undisciplined and ungodly man) and thus their PRODUCT (the results that are produced) are significantly less than what they started out with and what GOD ultimately intended for their lives.  WOW!

It reminds me of the biblical story of a young woman by the name of Ruth who had the courage to abandon her cultural roots in order to align herself with a righteous woman by the name of Naomi.  Originally, Naomi’s family members were citizens of Bethlehem of Judah.  Yet they spent a decade in the nation of Moab due to a severe famine in Israel.  In the intervening years, her husband died.  And, after marrying two Moabite women, her two sons also died.

Ultimately, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, although she was now poverty stricken and penniless.  Ruth loved Naomi and sought to do all she could to comfort and sustain her mother-in-law in her old age.  Ruth’s story is both fascinating and providential.  One of the directives God had given Moses to observe was that the harvesters of grain or grapes would leave a portion of their fields unharvested so that the poor would be able to glean the remnants and have food provisions. (Leviticus 19:9-10) While Ruth was gleaning for grain, a wealthy landowner by the name of Boaz noticed her.

What initially caught the attention of Boaz was not Ruth’s appearance, but Ruth’s dedication, focus and industry.  Boaz then directed his harvesters to deliberately drop ample amounts of grain in Ruth’s vicinity so she could gather them without undue labor or embarrassment.  Boaz was a type of Christ.  As a family relative of Naomi, he was a kinsman.  As a gracious benefactor, he was a redeemer.  Thus, Boaz is a Kinsman-Redeemer, a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah who, as our Elder Brother, i.e. “the firstborn among many brethren,” redeemed us from the power, practice and penalty of sin. (Romans 8:29)

Because of Ruth’s HEARTFELT DEDICATION to doing things the right way, she was positioned and empowered for a covenant connection with BOAZ and with GOD.  To wit, both Boaz and Ruth’s names are included in the family genealogy of Jesus Christ: “Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.” (Matthew 1:5)  Indeed, they were the great-grandparents of King David, a direct ancestor of JESUS CHRIST!

One final thought…

RAHAB, the mother of Boaz was a PROSTITUTE who did not allow her past to get in the way of choosing the right side, GOD’S SIDE. (Joshua 2:1-21)   Despite Rabab’s past, she is afforded a very honorable mention among those whom GOD designates as heroes of the faith. (Hebrews 11:31) You see, it’s not what you are going THROUGH that counts so much.  It’s what you are going TO that really matters to God!

Regardless of your past choices, conduct, or character, you are now in living in a DESTINY MOMENT.  And you have the gracious option to make wise and Godly decisions from this point onward.  So ladies, who will it be?  Boaz or Bozo?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!