The Best is Yet to Come – Luck vs Blessing

God’s Blessings Come Through:

• Answered prayer
• God’s mercy

Luck vs Blessings:

• God is in absolute control
  • Active will
  • Passive will
• Trust God and not luck

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Key Scripture:

Ruth 2:1-3 (NLT)

1 Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech. 2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.” 3 So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

Ruth 2:4-12 (NLT)

4 While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said. “The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied. 5 Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?” 6 And the foreman replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. 7 She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.” 8 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. 9 See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.” 10 Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.” 11 “Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. 12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

Ruth 2:19-23 (NLT)

19 “Where did you gather all this grain today?” Naomi asked. “Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!” So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.” 20 “May the Lord bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.” 21 Then Ruth said, “What’s more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is completed.” 22 “Good!” Naomi exclaimed. “Do as he said, my daughter. Stay with his young women right through the whole harvest. You might be harassed in other fields, but you’ll be safe with him.” 23 So Ruth worked alongside the women in Boaz’s fields and gathered grain with them until the end of the barley harvest. Then she continued working with them through the wheat harvest in early summer. And all the while she lived with her mother-in-law.

Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.

• Do you practice certain habits or rituals out of superstition?  Eg. reading your horoscope, avoiding #13, pick up a penny for good luck, etc…  What causes you to believe in superstitions and luck?

Start sharing. These questions are to help get your group thinking and to create openness.

• Read Ruth 2:1-3.  Was Ruth lucky that she landed in Boaz’s field?  How do you explain the “as it happened” circumstances of life?
• Pastor Troy said blessings come our way through answered prayer and God’s mercy.  Do you think luck also plays a part?  Why or why not? 
• Read Ruth 2:4-12.  Why was Boaz so kind to Ruth?  How did God use Boaz to answer Boaz’s prayer?  Has God ever used you to answer your own prayers?  
• Read Ruth 2:19-23.  What was the responsibility of a family redeemer?  Did Ruth know that Boaz was Naomi’s family redeemer when she chose that field? 
• Read Proverbs 16:33.  What does this verse teach us about the “randomness” of events in this life?  Is there anything that God does not control?
• Pastor Troy said God’s sovereignty works 2 ways, an active will and a passive will.  Discuss the difference and how God uses both in carrying out His will.
• What does it look like in your life to trust God instead of luck?

Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.

• Take a step of faith, trusting in God’s protection, provision, and sovereignty.

Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.

• Give thanks to God that He is your provider and protector, that He has a plan for you and for your life, and be thankful that you can trust Him with your future.

Start digging. For further study.

• Read this Got Questions article, “What is a blessing according to the Bible?”

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