China’s best-known monument is the Great Wall that surrounded the country during the Ming Dynasty. At four thousand miles long and over twenty feet tall, the wall was designed to be an impenetrable obstacle to invading armies. The idea was a good one, and it would have worked well—except that the enemy was able to bribe the gatekeeper. With the compromise of one guard, an impenetrable wall was rendered useless.
Have you felt God’s refuge was impenetrable…until recently? Have circumstances changed (COVID, finances, relationships) and answers to prayer have dried up? We must trust the Lord and stand our ground when all is quiet. However, when God seems silent…when prayers continue without answers…when struggles are too hard for too long – it is time to trust! NEVER FORGET -- The Lord is working behind the scenes!
Guarding Her Testimony (Ruth 3:14)
Ruth had done nothing wrong and Boaz wanted to be certain no one thought otherwise. So, “before one could know another” — or while it was yet so dark a person could not discern another – Boaz sends Ruth home with a caution that it should not be known she was on his threshing floor that night. Did Boaz say these words directly to Ruth, or to his servants, or was this merely the inner thoughts of his heart? Well, we do not believe it was stated to his servants as the whole tenor of this passage seems to indicate he was alone. Yet, whether it was said in his thoughts or directly to Ruth, does not matter. The revelation of Boaz’s desire to guard their testimony is what is important to understand here.
Boaz was concerned about appearances. Isn’t that interesting? Boaz knew how people talked…especially about the Moabite woman! He was concerned about Ruth’s testimony and his own. PLEASE NOTE – this does not say he is selfish or does not love her. It is just the opposite!! Because Boaz loves Ruth, he wants to protect her reputation and not allow lies to be spoken of her. Love wants what is best for the other. Boaz wants what is best for Ruth.
A friend told Plato of a terrible charge that had been leveled against the famous philosopher. Knowing it was not true, his friend said, "What are we going to do?" Plato replied, "We must simply live in such a way that all people will know it is false." (Source: Unknown)
Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 5:22 that all Christians ought to abstain from every appearance of evil. Guard your testimony…make certain your appearances show others you are doing right! Consider these 4 areas to guard our appearances.
YOUR GAZE.
Be careful what direction your gaze turns in the grocery lanes or on the internet! (Ps. 101:3) Be purposeful with your gaze.
YOUR CONSENT.
Pay attention to what co-workers are saying so you don’t laugh just to be nice – though you weren’t listening. (Eph. 5:3-4) That said, God loves a cheerful heart and laughter. The godly disciple of Jesus Christ knows how to laugh heartily (Prov. 17:22); however, he responds to sin with mourning (Jas. 4:8-10) not laughter! Illustration: Gram laughing
YOUR OBEDIENCE.
Be careful to purposely choose to obey the law as long as the law doesn’t require you to disobey God. (Rm. 13:1-2) Remember, this passage was written during the times of Nero’s rule – the church is not above the law. Examples: obey the speed limit, pay your taxes, respect police officers & property of others.
YOUR TONGUE.
Hold your tongue. Talking just to fill in the silence can be dangerous and is often filled with complaint, whining, gossip, and slander. Be careful! (Ps. 139:4; Jas. 3:2, 5)
Talking negatively about your spouse or others, behind their back, is a habit for some. If you are seeking counsel from a godly disciple of Jesus Christ regarding your marriage or another relationship, and you are not going around to “many godly disciples of Jesus” to talk about the faults of others, then that is a different situation. However, you still need to be guarded and careful. Always talk about your spouse, children, or others with this thought – if the person I am talking about would over hear me right now (or it would be reported back to them), I wouldn’t be embarrassed or have to apologize for what I am revealing or saying right now. Consider a few questions:
o Am I breaking a trust by saying this right now?
o Have I said, “they told me not to say anything, so don’t tell anyone I told you?” (unethical and dishonest)
o Do I include things like, “I don’t mean to be critical, but…?” -- and then critically assess others in a way I do not like others assessing me?
o Do I know this negative information firsthand or did I hear it from someone else? Although the source may be a friend, they may have gotten the information wrong or included exaggeration to paint a more shocking picture. The truth is, at that point, you do not know if they did include exaggeration. So, if you share that information, you could be spreading gossip.
In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. After they expressed their desire to fund a memorial, Eliot impatiently said, "Perhaps you have in mind a scholarship." "We were thinking of something more substantial than that... perhaps a building," the woman replied. In a patronizing tone, Eliot brushed aside the idea as being too expensive and the couple departed. The next year, Eliot learned that this plain pair had gone elsewhere and established a $26 million memorial named Leland Stanford Junior University, better known today as Stanford! (Today in the Word, June 11, 1992.)
As the old saying goes, appearances can be deceiving…so, be on your guard!
Be careful of your appearances…your testimony is easily broken but painfully hard to repair.