5 Love Lessons From The Book Of Ruth

With Valentine's Day just a few days away, many hearts are turning to love. For those of us who already have a mate, we may be thinking of ways to make the day a special one. For those women who have not yet found your  Mr. Right, you may be hoping that this Valentine's Day will bring you the man of your dreams. Whatever your situation, or season of life, why not look to the greatest love manual, God's Word, and see what tips you can pick up?

I love the book of Ruth, because here we meet a woman who has spanned a few seasons of life and returns to one she has already passed. She has been married, widowed and marries again in this book. We don't know what her first marriage was like, but it lasted ten years until her husband died.

So what lessons can we learn from the book of Ruth to help us snag (or keep) Mr. Right?

1. Faithfulness - After her husband's death, Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law suggests to Ruth and Orpah, her other daughter-in-law to return to their families and try to build a life for themselves. Orpah follows her advice, but Ruth decides to follow Naomi to Bethlehem, even though she is not Jewish as Naomi is. Listen to what Ruth says:

  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: (Ruth 1 : 16).

That's the stuff of which faithfulness is made - something every man looks for in a woman, and something which should come easily to you as a woman of God. Even if you are single, but are serious about the man you are dating, you should demonstrate faithfulness in your relationship with him.

2. Selflessness - This is one of the qualities that attracted Ruth to Boaz. And he let her know. 

 It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: (2: 11).

Your husband or future husband is watching the way you treat other people. Are you helpful? Kind? Caring? Do you put the needs of others before your own? The way you treat others will determine how you will treat him.

3. Hard working - No sooner had she and Naomi settled in Bethlehem, Ruth went out and found work gleaning in the corn fields. It just happened that she ended up in the field belonging to Boaz, who immediately noticed her. When he inquired who she was, one of the servants said, 

And she said , I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came , and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house ( v 7).  

Let's face it, girls, unless you marry a millionaire, you will be expected to contribute to the upkeep of the home - either through your job, or by staying home and cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids. No man wants a woman who just wants to sit around polishing her nails and watching television all day. Be prepared to carry your share.

4. Obedience - I know, most people don't like this word. They think it means subservience, performing beneath your standard. But it doesn't. Ruth's obedience to Naomi helped her earn food for them both and put her in the path of Boaz, who later became her husband. 

 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. 23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law ( v 22).

5. Good grooming - Naomi instructed Ruth: Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: 

Naomi knew what every woman should know, that  if you are trying to impress a man, or keep him interested, you need to put your best face forward. No matter how busy you are with the house, kids or your job, you must make time every now and then for yourself - a tub soak, mani, pedi, a little make up would do wonders to help you catch and keep that man. 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

For the month of February I'm offering free shipping for my book Women For All Seasons, where you can learn more about Ruth. Drop me a line in the comment box and I'll tell you how you can obtain your copy.