One of the surest ways to either gender success or fall prey to failure comes down to the nature of priorities in our lives. Successful people in different fields understand where priorities should fall, while perpetually failing people blame their lack of priorities on other people for their own problems. In Ruth 3:18, we read an interesting statement in the story of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi. Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz would “not be in rest” until he had finished the business of redemption that very day. In this rich and wonderful story, Boaz prioritized Ruth and the redemption of Naomi’s family inheritance. He put it before rest and the other necessities of life. In the picture, we see a wonderful scene of Christ not resting until He sat down after finishing the redemption for His bride. While that picture has wonderful tones and brings sweet thoughts, what does that example show for us? How do we prioritize the way Christ or Boaz did in their redemption stories?
Who not What: One of the interesting things about priorities is that people often ask the wrong question. In the Boaz/Ruth story, the nearer kinsman was willing to redeem the parcel of ground that belonged to Elimelech. However, when Ruth’s name was brought up, he was not only unwilling but also unable to play the part of redemption. Unlike that kinsman, Boaz was willing and able to redeem not only the what (ground) but also the who (Ruth). Likewise, Christ was willing and able to save His bride no matter the what that stood between Him and her. Likewise, those who we love should be prioritized no matter what stands between us and them. When a man and woman stand together and take their marriage vows, they are pledging themselves to each other no matter what. The “who” carries the day over the circumstances of “what” may occur. In a church sense, we have pledged to one another and the Lord that we will stick with each other in the bonds of truth and love no matter what. Employees pledge to their employers to faithfully labor for a faithful wage. No matter the what going on, the who should carry the day of priority.
When not If: While the above section seems obvious, the test comes when the what stands in the way of things. It’s not a matter of “if” this will happen. It WILL happen. Things come up; life gets in the way. What to do? What did Christ do when death, hell, the grave, sin, and destruction stood between Him and His love? He literally moved heaven and earth by His own will, offering, and death to destroy all those things that stood between Him and her. Boaz was not moved by Ruth’s heritage or any of the cultural ramifications of his decision. Too many times, our modern culture allows and excuses things that previously would have been shameful. Divorce has become a very pedestrian item in our culture. People think nothing of it, but a man and wife should fight valiantly to honor the vows that have been taken. Church members should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Employees should put their best foot forward in the service of their employer. Families that are so divided and ripped apart by all the trials and tribulations of this present, evil world should pull together to face all the challenges together rather than be pushed apart by them.
How and Why: Another great challenge to keep priorities straight is that people either key on how they’re doing or why they’re doing it. Both should be linked and united together. For a married couple, just being together (how) is not sufficient. Why are you doing it? Likewise, just being present at church should be matched together with why we are doing it. Priorities cannot just be seen as duty (though they are a duty), they should be loved and prized. Staying married is not just a duty, love should be at the heart of it. Church attendance, membership, etc. should be joined together with a desire to meet with our Husband and a portion of His beloved. Boaz didn’t redeem Ruth out of sheer duty. There was a deep love and manifest affection from him to her. Christ didn’t suffer for His people through gritted teeth. He saw the joy set before Him, and He was satisfied seeing His seed prolong and prosper in His own hand. God, faith, family, and all the priorities we should keep lined up in our minds and spirits should be honored with all of our might (how), but that labor should be engaged with great affection, intense love, and outward joy (why). Only then will the priority be seen as it should be and kept in proper order for the long haul.
Friends, rather than go through a litany of specific items of priorities that people don’t keep or order up correctly, a handy verse to keep all this straight is Colossians 3:23. Whatever we are doing, it should be done heartily as unto the Lord. If we are unable to keep that mandate, it could be that we shouldn’t be doing what we are doing. It could be that we should be doing something else (higher priority) than what we are doing. But, when things are in their proper order, we can expect to hear that sweet refrain, “Well done…” that our faithful Lord resonates within our own consciences that indicates that we have prioritized the who, not let outside factors interfere, matched up our actions and the motivations behind them, and are prepared for the next onslaught that is sure to start sooner than later.